Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant display of its ongoing commitment to eradicating illicit drug production and trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported the destruction of a massive 71.5-hectare cannabis farm in Taraba State, seizing an astonishing 178,750 kilograms of the substance. This operation, which occurred on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, was part of a coordinated, nationwide offensive that saw substantial drug seizures and numerous arrests across multiple states.
Taraba Farm Raid: A Major Blow to Illicit Cultivation
The operation in Taraba State targeted the Mayodoga forest in the Sardauna Local Government Area, a region identified as a hotspot for illegal cannabis cultivation. NDLEA operatives, bolstered by support from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Forest Security Service, and local vigilante groups, stormed the sprawling farm.
At the scene, a 30-year-old suspect, identified as Alfa Andrew, was apprehended. He was reportedly found in possession of a Dane gun at the time of the raid. The scale of the farm necessitated a large-scale destruction effort, with 178,750 kilograms of potent skunk, a high-grade strain of cannabis, being seized and subsequently destroyed. The NDLEA has classified this operation as one of its most impactful raids against illegal cannabis cultivation in recent times. The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the details of the operation on Sunday, August 31, 2025, highlighting the inter-agency cooperation that made the bust possible.
Nationwide Crackdown Targets Drug Syndicates
The Taraba operation was not an isolated incident but rather a component of a wider, intensified anti-narcotic campaign sweeping across Nigeria. Over the same period, NDLEA operatives conducted successful raids and interceptions in several other states, targeting various illicit substances and key players in the drug trade.
In Anambra State, a 75-year-old suspect, Uchelue Ikechukwu, was arrested in Umudioka with 26.7 kilograms of skunk. Six other individuals were also apprehended in the state for dealing in opioids and cannabis. The southwest region also saw significant action, with the agency making what it termed the single largest seizure of “Loud” and “Colorado” cannabis strains, potent variants of the plant, along with methamphetamine, in Ekiti State. A notorious drug kingpin, 42-year-old Ajayi Ayodeji Idowu, also known as Atiku, was apprehended in this operation.
Further seizures included 164 kilograms of skunk from a suspect’s base in Mushin, Lagos, and 117.5 kilograms of processed cannabis and seeds in Ondo State. In Kaduna State, a sting operation at the Abuja-Kaduna toll gate led to the interception of 104,900 tramadol capsules concealed within a fuel tanker, believed to be destined for insurgent groups in Borno State. A suspect, Hassan Buba, was arrested in connection with this seizure, while another, Kabir Sulaiman, was apprehended in Zaria with 34 kilograms of skunk.
Operations also yielded results in Nasarawa, Edo, and Kano states, leading to the seizure of hundreds of thousands of opioid pills, including tramadol and rohypnol, alongside large quantities of cannabis and other illicit substances. A major supplier of opioids in Borno State, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, was also arrested in Maiduguri.
Addressing the Roots of Cannabis Cultivation
These extensive operations underscore the persistent challenges posed by cannabis cultivation in Nigeria. Research indicates that factors such as unemployment, corruption, the relative ease of cultivation, and the demand from users ready to purchase contribute significantly to its prevalence. Many farmers turn to cannabis cultivation for higher economic returns compared to legitimate crops, often operating in remote forest areas to evade detection and enforcement.
The NDLEA, established in 1989, has a mandate to eliminate illicit drug trafficking and consumption across the country. The agency continues to employ intelligence-led strategies, including forest mapping and surveillance, to locate and destroy clandestine cultivation sites.
NDLEA’s Unwavering Commitment
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives for their dedication and success, emphasizing the agency’s unwavering resolve in its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. He reiterated that these actions send a clear message to criminal cartels operating within Nigeria and beyond. The agency consistently advocates for community involvement and awareness programs to foster a drug-free society.
The NDLEA’s coordinated efforts, as demonstrated by these recent nationwide raids, highlight a strategic approach to disrupting the drug supply chain, dismantling trafficking networks, and ultimately safeguarding public health and security. The agency also continues to provide advice and support for alternative livelihood programs aimed at deterring farmers from engaging in the illicit cultivation of cannabis.
