Nasarawa Police Command: 3 Arrested in Marijuana Cultivation Bust

• Three individuals, Aondaver Dominic, Sylvanus Umoor, and Peter Tar, were arrested on October 22, 2026, in Nasarawa State for alleged marijuana cultivation and sale.
• Police operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department recovered both dry Indian hemp and freshly harvested marijuana from a suspected hideout and a cultivation garden.
• The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, ordered a thorough investigation and the transfer of the suspects and exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
• This operation highlights intensified efforts by the Nasarawa State Police Command and NDLEA to combat drug-related criminality through inter-agency collaboration.
• Authorities are committed to sustaining operational tempo against crime, urging public cooperation in providing timely information.

The explicit collaboration between the Nasarawa State Police Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicates a highly coordinated approach to prosecuting drug-related offenses.

Police in Nasarawa State recently apprehended three individuals in connection with alleged marijuana cultivation and distribution, marking a significant development in the state's ongoing efforts to curb illicit drug activities. The arrests, which occurred on Thursday, October 22, 2026, around 1300 hours, involved Aondaver Dominic, Sylvanus Umoor, and Peter Tar, all identified as males. This operation, part of a broader anti-crime patrol, led to the discovery of both processed and growing cannabis.

Operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia conducted the raid in the Sabongida Bature and Gidan Kparev villages, situated within the Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. During their patrol, officers were directed to a location suspected of being a hideout where marijuana was reportedly sold and consumed. Upon the arrival of law enforcement, the suspects allegedly attempted to escape but were quickly apprehended by the police team.

Following the initial arrests, quantities of dry leaves, believed to be Indian hemp, were recovered from the scene. Further investigation by the operatives led them to a garden located directly behind the suspects' residence. Here, police discovered and recovered freshly harvested leaves, strongly suspected to be marijuana, indicating active cultivation. All items seized during the operation have been secured as evidence for subsequent legal proceedings.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has emphasized its commitment to a thorough investigation into the matter. Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, issued directives for a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged cultivation and sale of marijuana. A critical aspect of these directives is the instruction for the suspects, along with all recovered exhibits, to be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for advanced investigation and appropriate legal action. This handover underscores the collaborative approach taken by law enforcement agencies in Nasarawa drug enforcement operations.

This inter-agency cooperation highlights a coordinated strategy to address drug-related offenses, particularly in cases involving the cultivation of illicit substances like Indian hemp. The State Police Command's involvement, from initial arrest through the State Criminal Investigation Department, followed by the transfer to the NDLEA, demonstrates a structured process for prosecuting such crimes. This approach aims to leverage the specialized expertise of each agency in combating the drug trade within the state.

The recent Nasarawa marijuana cultivation arrests signal an intensified focus by authorities on eradicating drug production and distribution networks across the state. CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed has charged officers and men of the Command to maintain their operational momentum and escalate efforts against all forms of criminality throughout Nasarawa State. This directive reinforces the police's unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property, with a clear declaration that they will persist until crime is decisively curtailed.

For criminal defense lawyers in Nasarawa, these developments underscore the continued and intensified enforcement efforts against marijuana cultivation. The explicit collaboration between the Nasarawa State Police Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicates a highly coordinated approach to prosecuting drug-related offenses. This situation signals a need for legal practitioners to be prepared for a potential increase in drug cultivation cases and to understand the specific procedural steps involving both agencies, as articulated by Police Public Relations Officer SP Ramhan Nansel in a statement to journalists in Lafia. The public is also urged to provide timely and credible information to security agencies, strengthening collective efforts towards ensuring peace and security.

Criminal defense lawyers in Nasarawa should note the continued and intensified enforcement efforts against marijuana cultivation, particularly the collaboration between the State Police Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which indicates a coordinated approach to prosecuting drug-related offenses. This signals a need to be prepared for an increase in drug cultivation cases and the specific procedural steps involving both agencies.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH newspaper