NDLEA Declares War against Illicit Drugs, Seizes Cocaine, Others

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos

Bauchi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared war against illicit drugs like Cocaine and Metavitamin which it said had started entering the state making the fight against hard drugs more fierce.

This is as the Chief Whip of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, has expressed the commitment of the House to tackle the issue of drug abuse among the youths in the state through the passage of various motions and resolutions on the floor of the House, adding that it is also partnering with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight.

The declaration was made by the State Commandant of NDLEA, Segun Oke yesterday while speaking at the launch of war against drug abuse in Bauchi  where he called on all stakeholders to rally round the campaign in order to have a free drug abuse society.

The Commandant said that the stakeholders’ meeting was aimed at getting meaningful inputs from them on how to join hands with the agency in securing the society from the activities of drug peddlers.

Oke also said that apart from meeting with the stakeholders, the agency also used the avenue to launch the war against drug abuse in the state as well as decorate some of its staff who have been promoted with their new ranks.

The Commandant who also displayed assorted illicit substances seized in the state, said that the agency was not giving any breathing space for drug abuse and said that the operation of the agency cut across roads, most especially entry into Bauchi and its exit as well as black spots where people go there to abuse drugs.

He said that, “In the cause of our operations, we have arrested drugs, popular drugs like Canabis Sativa, Tramadol, Coffmixtures with Codeine and recently we have began to see indications that Cocaine, Metavitamin are coming into Bauchi State.”

Oke said that the agency was raising the alarm for families, stakeholders, churches, mosques to be able to sensitize members of the society to be aware of what is going on in the state.

While launching the new war against illicit drugs, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed described drug abuse as a worrisome development in every society.

The governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, General Marcus Yake (rtd), expressed his administration’s resolve to support NDLEA to succeed in the fight against the menace of drug abuse in the state.

Mohammed who described drug abuse as one of the main causes of social vices in the society said, “because of anybody involved in drugs, the next tendency is for such people to commit evil acts and that’s why we are having insecurity today in our society.”

He commended the agency for organising the stakeholders’ meeting, describing it as a good step towards fighting drug abuse in the country, adding that the task is everybody’s business.

“This interactive session is very good because it has accorded all the stakeholders the opportunity to make necessary contributions towards the fight against the menace, though NDLEA is the leader in the fight against drug abuse,” the governor noted.

Mohammed who maintained that the fight against the menace of drug abuse has to be a holistic approach, noted that the situation has to be dealt with right from the root saying, “the fight can be achieved when those that either farm the drugs or the main dealers and not the consumers only are arrested and prosecuted, that is fighting the menace from the roots.”

He called for synergy among various agencies in the fight against drug peddlers in terms of detecting, identifying, reporting, prosecuting and punishing offenders.

The stakeholders’ meeting had in attendance, the government, traditional leaders, Parastatals, other Security agencies, amongst others where contributions and suggestions were made on how to succeed in the fight against drug abuse.

Meranda, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during the 7th Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting with the theme: ‘Increasing Wave of Drug Abuse: A Threat to Nation Building’ stated that event is aimed at interacting with their constituents regarding getting their inputs in the forthcoming state annual budget and also emphasise on the issue of drug abuse among the youths.

She noted that the issue has become a serious concern to the leadership of the House who have moved several motions such as ‘need to curb the sales and consumption of hazardous liquid substances (Sokudiaye) in the state.’

She lamented that the abuse of drugs is fast becoming prevalent among adults and especially youths.

Meranda, who was represented at the event by the Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Gerard Ubakor, hinted that drug abuse has been identified to have diverse and devastating effects on the safety and progress of the society.

She further explained that apart from the negative social effects of drug abuse such as violent crimes, disruption of the family, and child abuse, the menace has been associated with some other criminal behaviours such as gang formations, rape, cultism and others.

According to her, “Several motions have been raised on the issue and we have created a lot of enlightenment on the need for the youths to be careful about getting involved in drug abuse and the consequences in the society.

“A survey by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in 2018 stated that Lagos and Oyo States had the highest prevalence of drug abuse among youths in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. These statistics are alarming and are red flags about the need to safeguard our state by safeguarding the future of the young generation.

“More disturbing is the revelation of experts who have established the relationship between the menace of drug abuse and rising incidences of violent crimes in the country.

“We are working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and schools to get everybody involved and create massive awareness. The way out of this crisis is to continue raising awareness on it and ensure that every hand is on deck to address it, because it is a big problem that we all have to address.

“The stakeholders’ meeting is an annual event and the main focus is to create a platform where the house members can interact with their constituency. Secondly, as we work towards drawing up the project for the year the members of the house feel it is important for their constituents to make inputs into the annual budget.

“Today, we are providing free eye glasses, and screening to our constituents. We are targeting not less than 200 patients. Every time we have an annual conference we also try to reach out to our constituents, but for this year, I am donating educational materials such books, school bags and mathematical sets to eight primary schools in Apapa 1.”