A suspected fake Nigerian Army corporal, David Adebayo, has been arrested by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kogi, for being in possession of 156.3 kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).
The Commander of the agency, Alhaji Idris Bello, on Saturday in Lokoja, disclosed that Adebayo was arrested with a Nigerian Army identity card and camouflage uniform.
According to Bello, Adebayo was in the company of one Sunday Odion, a driver, when they were intercepted on the Okene-Auchi road and found with 156.3 kg of Indian hemp which was neatly packaged.
On sighting NDLEA officials on the road, the suspects made a u-turn but were pursued and finally caught in Okpella, Edo State where they were involved in an accident with a KIA pick up van and a motorcycle.
“We had to pay the sum of N50,000 to buy another motorcycle for the victim and as the youth came out and insisted that NDLEA officers must buy them another machine,” the commander said.
He, however, explained that the agency had contacted the military authorities in a bid to confirm the claims by Adebayo that he is in the Nigerian Army.
Adebayo confessed to have taken N20,000 to escort the cannabis consignment from Auchi to Katsina.
The NDLEA commander also said that the agency had, in the last six weeks, in the State, seized 1.04 tonnes of cannabis sativa and arrested 14 suspects.
Bello said the major seizures made include 74 bags of the substance weighing about 744.4 kg, which were covered with plantains, intercepted by NDLEA officials on patrol on the Okene-Auchi road in September.
He said that the 14 suspects, including Adebayo, would be prosecuted upon completion of investigations.
