A Cannabis farmer, Clement Akor, has begged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to take his life instead of destroying his 10-hectare cannabis plantation.

Akor, a 42 years old father of six children hails from Enabo village in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He was arrested by the Kogi State command of NDLEA alongside his accomplice David Ameh.

Akor who claimed he had invested so much in the business and cannot afford to lose it to the arms of the law said he learnt the trade in Owo, Ondo State.

His cannabis farm is located in Oketepe in Okula community about 10 kilometres from Ejule under Ofu Local Government of Kogi State.

He noted that he is aware of the law banning the sale of Cannabis Sativa insisting that it is business which must be followed with risk.

He said; 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 ones 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 better you people kill me than destroy this farmland.

“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 supported 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 illiterate. I don’t want to engage in armed robbery or kidnapping that is why I am into this business of Indian hemp”.

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 wave of illicit use and cultivation of Cannabis Sativa in the state.

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

The commander revealed that the latest breakthrough in the fight against illicit use of the drug in Kogi State is coming three days after the command arrested the duo of Endurance Samson and Abah Sunday for alleged possession of 36.2 kilogrammes wrap of Cannabis Sativa.

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