Three men have been arrested in Nasarawa State after police allegedly discovered marijuana being cultivated in a garden behind their residence in Keana Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Aondaver Dominic, Sylvanus Umoor and Peter Tar, were arrested on Thursday, October 22, during an anti-crime patrol by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia.

The operation took place around Sabongida Bature and Gidan Kparev villages in the Kadarko area of Keana LGA, according to the Nasarawa State Police Command.

Police spokesperson Ramhan Nansel, a superintendent of police, disclosed the arrests in a statement released in Lafia on Friday.

He said the operatives were led to a suspected hideout where marijuana was allegedly sold and consumed. The three men reportedly attempted to escape when they sighted the officers but were apprehended.

Quantities of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered during the operation, the police said.

Further investigation took the operatives to a garden behind the suspects’ residence, where they allegedly discovered marijuana cultivation. Freshly harvested leaves suspected to be marijuana were also recovered from the garden.

The police said all the recovered materials had been secured as exhibits for further investigation.

Following the arrests, the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, ordered a thorough investigation into the case.

He also directed that the suspects and the recovered exhibits be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and appropriate action under the law.

The commissioner urged officers of the command to sustain their operations and intensify efforts to tackle criminal activities across the state.

The police also appealed to residents to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to maintain peace and protect lives and property.

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