Photo: Lagos RRS acting on a tip off from Ambode arrest Indian Hemp sellers in Lagos

Press statement from Lagos state Rapid Response Squad 

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) acted on a tip-off from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and arrested a gang of narcotic specialist with eighteen sacks full Indian-hemp. The four suspects that were apprehended were Quadri Jimoh, 23, Tajudeen Busari, 33, Ukowa Udomma, 34, and Yakubu Mudashiru, 30. One man later identified as Olumide (a.k.a. Aroso), the gang leader, who also deals in various drug substances, escaped.

According to the memo, the gang has been terrorizing Oyingbo-Otto and its environs. Two of the suspects, Quadri Jimoh and Tajudeen Busari, insisting that they are victims of circumstances as they know nothing about the Indian-hemp found in the building.

Jimoh who lives at 15, Atitebi Street, Oyingbo, said that he was on his way to buy medications for his pregnant wife. “I am a bus conductor. My wife who is six-month pregnant called me to buy some prescribed medications for her. And on my way going to the pharmacy, I saw people running helter-skelter and I also ran with them. But unfortunately for me, I was caught by the policemen,” the suspect explained.

On his own, Tajudeen Busari, a native of Kwara State in Ilorin, said that he was just passing through around the area where the eighteen sacks of Indian-hemp were recovered. “I was just a passer-by when I saw people running for their lives. And I also ran too before these policemen intercepted me,” he added.

However, the other two arrested suspects,confessed to the Police that they are not the actual dealers of the drug, but they only smoke. They identified Olumide, who is now at large, as dealer of the recovered Indian-Hemp.

According to Uduma, “I went there to buy Indian-hemp before I found myself inside the police net. As a fashion designer, I came to Lagos about two years ago to eking out for livelihood.”

While Yakubu Mudashiru, whose house gutted fire some years ago, confessed that he is a regular visitor to the house where the drugs were found. “I have nowhere to stay after my house was razed down by fire. Since then, I have been sleeping inside Motor Park in Oyingbo. Truly, I went there to smoke on the fateful day,” he confessed.

The general public are hereby advised to always furnish Police with timely and effective information. The suspects have been transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further interrogation.