The Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard, Lokoja, has arrested a retired soldier and a civilian with over 400kg of substance suspected to be Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) along the Ajaokuta – Lokoja Road in Kogi State.
The two suspects – a retired Corporal in the Army, Denis Foukorighe; and Paul Obor, both natives of Benue State; along with the illicit substance, were handed over to officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Friday in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
The Commander, NNS Lugard Lokoja, Commodore Ugochukwu Ajulu, while parading the suspects, said they loaded the substance in a Honda Accord saloon car conveying the items from Edo State to somewhere in Area 1, Garki, Abuja for commercial purposes.
He said that they were arrested on Tuesday during the Navy’s checks operations along the Ajaokuta – Lokoja Road.
Ajulu said, “We are here at NNS Lugard Lokoja to hand over the two culprits and the illicit substances weighing over 400Kg including a Honda salon car to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution in the law court.”
While urging all security checkpoints in the state to be wary of people transporting illicit substances through the state to other locations across the country, Ajulu noted that the Naval checkpoints in Kogi have been active in line with the mandate given to them by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, stating that the mandate has started yielding results with the Tuesday’s interception of illicit drugs.
He urged Nigerian youths to engage in lawful businesses that will give them legitimate livelihoods instead of unlawful businesses that will land them in jail.
The Officer-in-charge of Strike Force NDLEA, Kogi State Command, Superintendent of Narcotics, Olorunfemi Abolarinwa, who received the two culprits on behalf of the agency, said the suspects will be investigated thoroughly before they face prosecution in the law court to serve as a deterrent to others.
“It is evidently clear that anywhere there are illicit drugs, there are series of crimes being perpetrated. As an agency in the fight against illicit drugs, we will continue to sensitise the citizens on the need to do away with dealing in all prohibited drugs because of their adverse effects on people” Abolarinwa stated.
