By Faridat Salifu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed more than 9.67 hectares of cannabis farmland in the Ikaka, Oke-Ila forest area of Osun State, raising fresh concerns about the environmental and public health implications of illegal drug cultivation in forested regions.
A total of 24,175 kilograms of cannabis, locally known as skunk, was set ablaze following a recent operation in which seven suspects were arrested, according to a statement released by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.
The illegal farms were located within ecologically sensitive forest zones, where such activities not only degrade natural habitats but also expose local communities to toxic smoke and chemicals when burned during enforcement actions.
Deforestation and soil degradation from illicit cannabis farming continue to pose risks to biodiversity and water sources, while the open incineration of seized substances may contribute to air pollution in nearby settlements.
In a separate raid in Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 167 kilograms of cannabis in Gamboru-Ngala, while 452 kilograms were seized at Gadar Tamburawa in Kano. Two suspects were arrested during the July 3 operations.
Along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, officers recovered 11,000 pills of tramadol (225mg) from a single suspect, adding to rising concerns over drug abuse among motorists and young populations.
In Sokoto, a 62-year-old man was arrested with 4,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, a high-strength opioid that continues to circulate despite its known addictive and mental health effects.
The agency also reported a seizure of 312 kilograms of cannabis and 10,000 tablets of diazepam in Yauri, Kebbi State, while two more suspects were arrested in Taraba with 49,930 capsules of tramadol.
NDLEA operatives raided the Ewere forest in Edo State, arresting 49-year-old Alaba Monday, a wanted suspect found in possession of 115 kilograms of processed cannabis.
Three other suspects were apprehended nearby, on a cannabis farm spanning over two hectares, underscoring the scale of illicit cultivation across forest reserves in the South-South region.
In Cross River, a 78-year-old man was arrested during a raid in Ofudua, Obubra LGA, with 14.49 kilograms of cannabis and tramadol in his possession, while three additional suspects were arrested in the Ovonum area of the same local government.
As drug enforcement operations continue across the country, public health experts are warning that the growing volume of psychoactive substances—especially in rural and forested areas—presents dual threats to human health and environmental safety.
Repeated exposure to cannabis smoke during open destruction exercises could cause respiratory issues among operatives and nearby populations, while contaminated runoff from drug processing sites may threaten soil fertility and food production.
The NDLEA maintains that it is working closely with environmental and health authorities to mitigate the long-term impacts of its operations, while intensifying surveillance in vulnerable regions prone to illicit farming and traffic.
