JTF Uncovers 124 Bags of Hemp in Borno Church

•Curfew relaxed in state
Michael Olugbode
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.