By ATABOR JULIUS, Lokoja

A 42 year old suspected cannabis sativa farmer, (Indian hemp) Clement Akor, has stunned the whole world when he begged officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to spare his 10 hectares farm and then kill him as he cannot stand the huge financial commitment into the plantation being destroyed.

Akor, a father of six children from Enabo village in Ankpa Local Government area of Kogi State was arrested on Tuesday by the Kogi State command of NDLEA alongside his accomplice David Ameh.

Akor who claimed to have invested huge amount of money into the cultivation of the plantation , said it is better for him to die than to lose the farm to the law.

The suspect , said he learnt how to farm the illicit weeds from a village in India state appealed to the commander Alfred Adewumi from destroying his farm which is located in Oketepe in Okula community about 10 kilometer from Ejule Ofu Local Government of Kogi State.

He stressed that although he is aware of the consequences of his action, he is asking the Agency to tamper Justice with Mercy to spare his farm from destruction.

His words, “I am the owner of this farm. I learnt it in Yoruba land. When I cultivated one last year, it was stolen. So it is this year I bought seed from Yoruba land to plant new one’s, before I was caught.”

“Indian hemp business is luck. In this farm, I can get many bags here. I do sell one bag for N20,000 depending on the area am selling it. It could be more. I spent N12,000 for labour in cultivating this farm. It is better you people kill me than destroy this farm land.”

“This is my business, I spent a lot to allow this plant to grow up to this level. In the next two weeks, I am supposed to harvest it. Now you people have come here to destroy it. Just kill me, so that I won’t see you people destroying what I have laboured for. I am looking for money because I am an illiterate. I don’t want to engage in armed robbery or kidnapping that is why I am into this business of Indian hemp”, he solicited.

Addressing journalist on Wednesday, shortly after the destruction of the large cannabis farm, the Kogi State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Alfred Adewumi lamented on the increasing rate of consumption cultivation of cannabis sativa in the state.

Adewumi stated that the two suspects were arrested through intelligence gathering by officers of the command.

The commander noted that the latest breakthrough in the fight against illicit drugs in the State is coming three days after the command arrested the duo of Enduarance Samson and Abah Sunday for alleged possession of 36.2 kilogrammes wraps of cannabis sativa.

“This is very unfortunate. I am worried about this unfortunate development. I have thought that Kogi State will not descend to this point. As things stands today, it will be direct self denial to begin to say that Kogi state is not planting cannabis sativa because the evidence itself suggest the fact that there is high planting of cannabis sativa in Kogi State. Sadly Kogi State is ranking high among Indian Hemp endemic states.”

“We will not relent in fighting against illicit use of drug that is why we took the fight to their door steps. Kogi State is the gateway to states in the north, south, east and western parts of this country.”

“I have promised at the point of my deployment to Kogi State that I won’t give room for anybody to turn Kogi State to a drug cultivation State. And because of that, we have spread out our tentacles, reach out as far as possible with intelligence gathering, this result is why you are seeing today” Adewumi assured. (Daily Independent)

Update news