We are not afraid to arrest notable people in drug business - NDLEA boss

August 28, 2020

By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said it is not afraid of arresting notable people in drug business but required information to tackle them.

The agency however urged Nigerians who have useful information on drug dealers in high places to avail them of the information to enable them take appropriate steps.

The Chairman, Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd) said this in Aba, Abia on Friday while speaking to newsmen.

Abdallah who disclosed this during the Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits by NDLEA by Abia office at Ogbor Hill, said burns drugs to get them out of reach of miscreants.

He said that 9, 110.252 kilograms of drugs made up of 6,574.116 of Cannabis, 10.81 of Heroin, 8,932 of Cocaine, and 2,526.394 of psychotropic substances were destroyed in the exercise.

He said that Abia is one of the most enterprising states in the South East adding that the authorities should ensure the state is not threatened by hard drugs.

 

“This is in the view of the fact that manpower is often depleted by drug dependence while the get-rich-quick syndrome leads productive persons into criminal enterprise illicit trafficking in in drugs”, he said. 

Abdallah thanked Abia government for supporting efforts of NDLEA through the office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Drugs and Narcotics and creation of State Drug Control Committee.

He also appreciated the efforts of Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu’s Vicar Hope Foundation, Mrs Althea Nwele’s Advocacy for Veritas Addiction, Daniel Nwankwo Foundation and Youth Against Substance Abuse (YASA) in fighting drug dependence.

He further commended the support of the Directorate of State Security, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the state.

Abia’s Governor Okezie Ikpeazu represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu said that the world is challenged by the dynamism of living which had displaced many aspects of society.

He said the menace of hard drugs leaves the societies undeveloped through terrorism, organized armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping, rape wanton destruction of lives and property and other crimes.

Ikpeazu said that through drugs, many youths have been dislocated, rejected and disillusioned in life with unquantifiable damage to society.

He however said that although there was much effort to totally rid the society of hard drugs, such efforts were yet to yield the desired results.

The governor said that the burning of the drugs showed Abia’s commitment to entrench sanity in the state through fighting hard drugs consumption.

He promised that the state will not relent in supporting NDLEA in fighting hard drug consumption and to ensure a hard drug free society.

The Abia NDLEA Commander, Bamidele Akingbade said that this public destruction of drugs is unprecedented being the first of its kind in the state.

He said the burning of the over 9 tons of hard drugs showed NDLEA’s  commitment and success against drug war in Abia.

He said that apart from White-Collar crimes, all other crimes are connected to hard dug consumption which makes it necessary for all to fight the scourge.

Akingbade appreciated the state government and NGOs that have contributed in the drug fight and asked for more support in the war in the days ahead.