KWARA STATE NDLEA SEIZED 2,000 KG OF DRUGS IN ONE YEAR
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State on Monday in Ilorin, said it had seized about 2,329.642kgs of drugs from July 2021 to date.
Kwara state NDLEA command, Mr. Ibrahim Saidu, stated this during a news conference organized to commemorate the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking.
The programme was organised in conjunction with the Kwara State Ministry of Health and the Office of the Governor’s Wife.
The day is celebrated consistently in commemoration of the global achievement against drug abuse, drug trafficking, production of illicit narcotics and psychotic drugs.
Saidu stated that the agency had arrested a total number of 415 suspects, out of which 362 were males and 53 females.
“The agency had so far convicted 41, counselled 160 and rehabilitated 22,” he said.
Saidu stated that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the annual report placed Kwara state at 13 percent drug abuse prevalence, the highest in North Central states of Nigeria.
The NDLEA commander decried the recent spike in the involvement of single and married women in drug peddling in the state.
“However, the command is conducting intelligence-led operational activities to reverse the trend.
”This is in addition to the various advocacy and enforcement programmes already put in place.
“This is the aspect of addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises, which involves the collective contributions and efforts of the society, communities, stakeholders and of course the state government and its institutions,” he said.
Saidu said the agency is being confronted with a series of challenges including Paucity of funds and slow criminal justice system of the country, among others.
Also, Mrs. Barakat Olanrewaju, Chairman of Kwara State Drug Control Committee, said the theme of the 2022 drug abuse day is “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health Humanitarian Crises.”
Olanrewaju lauded the Governor’s Wife, Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who is a patron, for her support in ensuring a drug-free state.
“Mrs. Abdulrazaq has sensitized about 30 Kwara state schools on the dangers of drug abuse across the three senatorial districts and community,” she said.
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