The NSCDC Commandant in Benin, Mr. Wakawa Buba, disclosed this at a press conference to review the activities and achievements of the agency in Benin.

Buba explained that statistics from the different local government areas showed that the rate of cultivation was alarming.

According to him, about 33 cannabis farms across the state, measuring 49.06 hectares, were traced and destroyed in 2017.

The figure, he said, increased by 11.18 hectares, when compared to the 37.87 hectares destroyed in 2016, adding that a total of 45,341.04 kilogrammes of the substance were seized.

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Buba said, “Intelligence report from the above statistics has shown that the problem of cannabis cultivation in the state is alarming.

“Thus, the diversion of arable land to cannabis cultivation remains a serious threat to food production. The large-scale production of cannabis has led to the widespread abuse of the drugs among the youths, especially school-age children.

“Apart from dropping out of school, use of children as cheap labour in cannabis plantations and drug-induced mental illness, most criminal acts are perpetrated under the influence of drugs. These include robbery, kidnapping, cultism, murder and rape, among others.”

The NDLEA commandant also lamented that the consumption of illicit drugs increased during the year under review, adding that while 58 drug dependants were recorded in 2016, the number increased to 168 in 2017.

He, however, gave an assurance that the agency would continue to adopt effective measures to financially incapacitate drug traffickers, through drug seizures, confiscation of assets, cannabis farm destruction and detection of drug warehouses.

He added, “In view of the growing number of young persons involved in substance abuse, the command will intensify efforts in school-based campaign this year. This will help in reducing demands for drugs in the state.

“Subject to the availability of funds, the command will construct a modern cottage rehabilitation centre to mitigate the problem of drug dependency.”