NMG

One hundred and twenty four bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp (marijuana) have been seized from the premises of a Celestial Church of Christ in Maiduguri by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Operation Restore Order.

The JTF has also relaxed the curfew on Borno State from 9pm to 6pm to between 11pm and 6pm daily.

A statement yesterday by the JTF spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said troops, acting on a tip-off, raided the church located at the House of Assembly Quarters, Pompomari area of the Maiduguri metropolis on July 10, during which the seizure was made.

“The raid led to the discovery and seizure of 124 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp packed in three rooms at the premises of the church. The suspect who is a pastor of the church, one Moses Edon, admitted knowledge of the content of the bags and confessed that the Indian hemp was brought to his church from Ondo State for safe keeping by a member of the church, one Mr Segun Oni,” it said.

According to Musa, preliminary investigation revealed that the church has not been active for some time now and has been used for safe haven for Indian hemp business from where some unidentified “partners in business” distribute the products to their customers in Maiduguri and environs.

The JTF emphasised that there is a correlation between illicit drugs and crimes in the state and called all citizens "to report the presence and dealers of such products in our midst to security agencies".

Announcing the relaxation of the curfew on the state, the JTF said it was doing so following tremendous improvement in the security situation in the area, adding that "for that reason, and in the spirit of Ramadan fasting, the task force finds it expedient to review the curfew timings imposed in the state”.

It added that the new curfew regime began from Tuesday.

Source: This Day Live