The spot is in a valley located 100 meters to Mararaba Police Station, are batchers covered with polythene sacks where the hemp vendors carry out their businesses without fear of the law. A resident of the area who simply calls himself Hassan confirmed that the settlement is notorious for hemp business. He said the space below a wooden bridge linking the markets had been turned into an abode for hemp smokers.
Unexpectedly, Hassan said criminal activity such as robbery is rare. He however said police constantly raid the area and sometimes arrest hemp dealers and smokers.
“We never heard of robberies or theft in this area. We are never disturbed by their activities except when the police chase them around. To those of us in the neighbourhood, they are doing their business. If the police and NAFDAC are not able to take care of the situation, who are we to do so?’’
Hassan said the police have an outpost close to the batchers and should have been able to curb the activities of hemp dealers and smokers.
A former DPO of Mararaba, Sylvester R. Eborsale while responding to the situation said a new DPO who recently replaced him is yet to order a raid of the area.
“We have raided the area several times but they keep returning after some time. The most drastic step is to clear the structures where some boys show films in the market area. The boys buy the hemp from somewhere and sell them in the valley near the market,’’ he said.
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