The Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Order, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital has arrested a Pastor, Moses Edon, in possession of 124 bags of Indian hemp at the premises of a Celestial Church of Christ.
We gathered that the church was abandoned last year, as its members fled due to the insecurity perpetrated by Boko Haram sect.
A statement by the JTF spokesman, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, said: “Based on information and intelligence, the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Restore Order at about 9.30am on July 10, 2013 raided the premises of a Celestial Church of Christ at House of Assembly Quarters, Pompomari area of Maiduguri metropolis.
“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.”
The JTF said preliminary investigation revealed that the church has not been active for some time now. It has been used for safe haven for Indian hemp business from where some unidentified “partners in business” distribute the product to their customers in Maiduguri and its environs.