The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) destroyed 73,463.21 kilogrammes of seized narcotics on Thursday, with an estimated street value of ₦2.8 billion. The incineration, conducted under a Federal High Court order, took place in Benin City and involved government officials, security agencies and traditional leaders. Cannabis sativa made up the largest portion at 73,210.23 kilogrammes. Other substances destroyed included 141.81 kilogrammes of Tramadol, 8.4258 kilogrammes of Diazepam, 61.7652 kilogrammes of Codeine syrup, 2.662 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, 3.7441 kilogrammes of Cocaine and 0.2168 kilogrammes of Heroin. The total weight of psychotropic drugs destroyed was 246.36 kilogrammes. Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by First Lady Edesili Anani, described the drug war as a battle for national security and societal survival. He linked drug abuse to kidnapping and banditry, and pledged continued support for the NDLEA, including plans to build a modern rehabilitation centre. He warned drug traffickers to leave Edo State, stating enforcement would not relent. NDLEA Chairman Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by DCGN Suleiman Ahmed Ningi, said the destruction showed Nigeria's resolve to defeat drug abuse. He commended the Edo government for allocating 20 plots of land for a new model NDLEA command headquarters. Senator Joseph Ikpea, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, praised the agency's efforts and promised stronger legislative backing, including improved funding and welfare for operatives. Edo NDLEA Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju said recent operations had intercepted drugs hidden in vehicles, trucks and traditional shrines. He noted operatives had been attacked with firearms but remained undeterred. Ofoyeju emphasized that material wealth means nothing if children are not protected from substance abuse.
Governor Okpebholo calls for total eradication of drugs in Edo while announcing a rehabilitation centre, though no timeline or funding details were given for the project. The destruction of 73,210 kilogrammes of cannabis raises questions about how such large quantities were cultivated and moved undetected. Edo residents named in the operation's location may face renewed scrutiny without corresponding disclosures on trafficking networks. The governor's warning to traffickers stands in contrast to the lack of public arrests or prosecutions linked to the seized drugs.
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