Police in Anambra State have arrested a 43-year-old man, Patrick Ojele, who disguised himself as mentally unstable while running a hidden marijuana farm in Awka.
The state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement on Thursday that Ojele was caught during a routine patrol along the Awka–Enugu Expressway near Ngozika Estate on Wednesday.
He explained, “The suspect was arrested by operatives attached to the Operations Department, Awka, and later led the team to the hidden farm, where large quantities of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa were recovered.”
According to the police, Ojele had secretly cultivated the farm for over two years.
The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, said the arrest was part of a fresh strategy to cut off drug supplies that empower cult groups and violent criminals. He ordered that the suspect be handed over to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugwu-Ukwu for further investigation to identify his buyers and dismantle the supply chain.
In a separate operation, the command also arrested 10 suspected cultists in Oyi Local Government Area. Ikenga said officers recovered an Ontario CA pistol with live ammunition from one suspect, 23-year-old Ndefoh Chijoke, described as a member of the Aye Confraternity (Black Axe).
He added, “Following intelligence gathered, nine other suspects were arrested, and they are now undergoing screening and profiling. Those found guilty will be charged to court.”
The police chief praised the swift work of the operatives, noting that aggressive raids, intelligence-led patrols, and community partnership will continue to check cultism, drug abuse, and gun violence in the state.
The command assured that calm has returned across the state as counter-crime operations remain ongoing.
