Cultivator in NDLEA custody

By Chinenyeh Ozor, Nsukka

ACres of Indian hemp farm lands have been discovered at Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Enugu State by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the area.

Crime Alert gathered that the large killer-weed farmlands are being managed by one Samson Oshomi who hails from Umuonoja family in Umuopu, Enugu Ezike, for several years in the community before his arrest last April, 2014.

The Indian Hemp Farm

A competent source who pleaded anonymity revealed that the entire community knew that the culprit has been engaged in the cultivation of the illicit weed for several years but they could not expose him because of his alleged criminal exploits.  “Oshomi has been involved in various criminal activities in the community ranging from cassava to cocoyam theft and even dares policemen each time he commits any crime.

That was why nobody from the community could dare to confront him for fear of being killed or maimed,” he disclosed.
Sources at NDLEA revealed that bags of the dried weed ready for evacuation to his selling points were discovered at his compound and he proudly owned up to the illegal business.

Illegal business
The culprit’s wife, Ngozi Oshomi, said she thought the arrest of her husband was business as usual as he has been arrested before now only for him to find his way out of detention.

“When it became clear to me that the music has changed was when I went to NDLEA office where they transferred my husband to in Enugu. Their boss told me that  he was being held for running acres of Indian hemp farm and nothing can be done about it but to prosecute him accordingly,” she explained.

It could be recalled that Oshomi was arraigned in 2002 and 2007 respectively in case number MIE/74C/2002 for illegal possession of firearms.   In 2003, he was arraigned for stealing cassava valued N1000.00 in case number MIE/15C/2003), while in 2006, he was tried at Enugu-Ezike magisterial district for assaulting two Police officers escorting him to prison custody on two month’s conviction. In 2012, the suspect and three others; Tobechukwu Oshomi, Jude Oshomi and Ayoguja Amedu, all from the same Umuopu community, allegedly stole bags of coco-yam.

Crime Alert sources also said that the exposure of the Indian hemp farm was a big relief to the community that has been thrown into nightmare and security risk due to the nocturnal activities of the suspect in the community.

Confirming the arrest of the suspect, NDLEA prosecutor in Enugu, Mr. J.O. Odudu said, “the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded into the matter because Indian hemp farming cannot be lightly treated by the agency.”