NDLEA, Homeland Security Raid Seedy Areas in Abia Capital, Umuahia, Burst Drug Rings

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The rings of illicit drugs business flourishing in the seedy spots of Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, have been bursted following sting operations jointly conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the State Homeland Security.
During the raids carried out at a private residence on Arochukwu Street and a hotel in the notorious “Down Below” slum behind Okigwe Park, the joint security team seized large amounts of hard drugs, including cocaine, heroine, cannabis,and  methamphetamine (mkpurumili).
Aside from the seized illicit drugs, the security operatives also arrested five suspects comprising two males and three females while a total sum of N500,000 was recovered.

Speaking at a news conference in Umuahia, the Deputy Governor of Abia, Ikechukwu Emetu, who was flanked by the state Commander of NDLEA, Amos Adelanwa, expressed delight at the successful outcome of the operation.
He said that it was a testimony of the commitment of the Alex Otti administration to stamp out all forms of criminalities in the state.
Emetu emphatically stated that illicit drugs “is the bedrock” of all criminal activities hence the decision of government to tackle the menace as part of the sustained war on criminalities.

“Abia is not a haven for any criminal. To all drug kingpins, the directives from the Governor of Abia State are very clear, stay away from Abia State, we don’t need you,” he warned.
“You (drug barons) are not part of the development of the state. Drugs can’t develop Abia State. We want our youths to be safe and very useful to the Government of Abia State,” he added.

Referencing the success achieved by the Abia government in flushing criminals out of the Lokpanta Cattle and other parts of Umunneochi Local Government, the deputy governor assured that the same treatment would apply against hard drug merchants.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Homeland Security, Chukwunenye Alajemba, who gave account of the operations, said that the security team struck just before the midnight of Valentine Day, February 14.

He said that among the suspects in custody is “a drug baron”, one Miss Adaobi Nweke, who was arrested at her home on Arochukwu Street where she had been carrying out her illegal business.
“Today, Umuahia is heaving a sigh of relief because this woman (Adaobi) has ruined many youths,” Alajemba said, adding that she had been involved in criminal activities for decades.
He noted that the drug kingpin is a lawyer by profession, and has criminality allegedly flowing in her blood as she is a daughter of a late notorious criminal in Umuahia, Joe Kin Jagwa.

Alajemba vowed that there would be no let up in the war against all forms of criminal activities, including hard drug business, in Abia.