The military Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State has discovered a large quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp in a  Celestial Church of Christ in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The discovery was announced just as the 9.00 pm to 6.00 am curfew imposed months ago was relaxed. Residents now have until 11.00 pm to turn in for the day.

The JTF said a total of 124 bags of Indian Hemp were seized from the premises of the said church at about 9.30 am on July 10.

A statement by the task force signed by it’s spokesman, SagirMusa, said that the Celestial Church of Christ at House of Assembly Quarters in Pompomari area of Maiduguri Was raided by soldiers after a tip off by some residents.

“The raid led to the discovery and seizure of 124 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp parked in 3 rooms at the premises of the church. The suspect who is a pastor of the church, one MosesEdon 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.”

Investigations have revealed that the church has not held any service or other religious activity for a while and had only served as a warehouse from which the banned weed was distributed to buyers in Maiduguri and its environs.

Musa drew a link between drug use and crimes in the state and appealed to residents to help reduce crime by reporting such illicit trade to security agencies.

The JTF also stated that the curfew was relaxed upon an improvement in the security situation in the state and in the spirit of Ramadam.

Muss, however, admonished residents to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to security agencies.