The Bauchi State Police Command on Friday handed over 387 blocks of dried leaves, suspected to be cannabis sativa, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi.
Aliyu Sani-Omolori, the State Commissioner of Police, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Yandoka Police Headquarters, explaining that the suspected cannabis was discovered following a motor vehicle accident involving two Toyota Corolla cars in Vom village, Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Sani-Omolori explained that investigations revealed the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was driven by Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.
He stated that the vehicle was conveying the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Bala Suleiman, 65, and his family members on their way from Bauchi metropolis to Nabardo Village.
The second white Toyota Corolla, bearing registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an unidentified individual travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Bauchi. Reports indicated that the driver, while attempting to overtake other vehicles recklessly, collided head-on with the first car.
He explained that all occupants of the two vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were immediately taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for medical attention.
According to the police commissioner, the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment, while other victims are also being attended to, with some already discharged.
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During a search of the wrecked Toyota Corolla with registration number Abuja GWA-155GW after the accident, detectives recovered several items from the vehicle.
Items recovered from the wrecked vehicle included 387 blocks of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, a black travel bag containing personal belongings, two polythene bags with personal items, a black Tecno phone without a SIM card, the damaged Toyota Corolla (Abuja GWA-155GW) without keys, a national driver’s license, and motor vehicle documents.
According to the Commissioner of Police, “These items have been forwarded to the State Investigation Department (S.I.D.) of the Bauchi State Command for further discreet investigation and forensic analysis. Upon completion, the case will be handed over to the NDLEA for continuation of the investigation.”
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Sani-Omolori urged anyone with useful information that could help identify the driver to come forward and assist the police, assuring that the command remains committed to uncovering the identity of the main suspect.
In his remarks, Hussaini Umaru, the Deputy State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi State, commended the police for their efforts and pledged that the agency would do everything possible to trace the owner of the recovered items.
