A routine intelligence-led operation in Edo State has uncovered a massive cannabis stash hidden where few would expect inside a community shrine.

NDLEA officers in Edo, acting on a tip-off, stormed Igwe Community in Owan East on Thursday. What they found stunned even seasoned agents: 59 sacks of skunk tipping the scale at 489kg, plus another 9kg of cannabis seeds tucked away behind shrine objects. The location, officials say, was being used by a drug network as a cover.

The ringleader behind the cache, only known as “Asrenre”, bolted before the raid. Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju confirmed the agency is now trailing him and working to cut off his supply lines.

The raid didn’t go smoothly at first. Some locals confronted the officers, arguing the shrine was sacred ground protected by spirits. NDLEA said it had to push past the resistance to get the job done.

While sweeping the area, agents also nabbed two other suspects. Sunday Oghaimen, 50, was caught with almost 1kg of cannabis and Tramadol. Esther Igbafe, 33, was found with a similar stash plus a small quantity of Swinol.

All seized drugs are now secured as evidence. Ofoyeju says the focus shifts to mapping the entire network and making sure “Asrenre” doesn’t slip away.

Edo’s forests and shrines have become regular targets for NDLEA this year, with the state remaining one of Nigeria’s biggest cannabis hubs.