A snake-guarded shrine used to store illicit drugs in Igor community, Benin, the Edo State capital, has been raided by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who detected a specially constructed large hole storage in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects.

Different quantities of illicit substances such as methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743 kilograms, were pulled out from the deep hole dug in the wall of the shrine building.

The NDLEA, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, June 23, 2024, said two ladies, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested during the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, June 18, after the big black snake guarding the shrine was demobilised.

Babafemi added that two suspects, 45-year-old Obi Ferguson and 46-yar-old Ernest Abanum, were arrested on Saturday, June 22, when NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State where 209kg cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.

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He stated that the commands and formations of the anti-drug agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others in the past week.

According to him, these include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of St. Peters College, Nibo, Anambra;  students and staff of Apostolic Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State;  students and teachers of Immanuel Baptist High School, Oyo town, Oyo State;  students and staff of Federal Government Science and Technical College, Otukpa, Benue State, as well as WADA advocacy lecture for Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer in Umuahia, Abia State; and a WADA advocacy visit to the First Lady of Enugu State, Nkechinyere Mbah, by the state command of the NDLEA.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted the balance in their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts as well as those of their compatriots across the country.

Marwa charged the NDLEA officers to maintain the ongoing offensive action against drug cartels as they continue to intensify their WADA social advocacy campaign.

The Star