NIGERIA
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday said it has sized 16,697.639 kilograms of illicit substances in north central Plateau State.
This was disclosed by the Chairman and Chief Executive NDLEA, Rtd. Col. Muhammad Abdallah, during a public destruction of the illicit drugs in the capital city of Jos.
According to him: “I consider this quantity of drugs to be frightening, compared to the population of the State. It leaves us without doubt that there is high prevalence of demand for drugs in the State”.
Abdallah said between January 2020 and now the Agency has destroyed a total 167, 436.6898 kilograms of drugs.
“Public destruction of exhibits to us is the triumph of good over evil. It underscores our collective opposition to the nefarious activities of a few individuals who are determined to ruin the lives of families and polluting our communities as well as our economy and endangering the great potentials of this country”, he said.
On his part, the Governor of the State, Simon Lalong said it was to a great advantage to Plateau that the drugs were intercepted, adding that the development underscores the looming danger drug peddlers would have plunged the State.
Lalong said despite concerted efforts by government, development partners, religious, traditional and civil society organizations, the trend has continued to grow.
“Today, many of the security challenges that we are confronted with such as kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cultism, rape and other associated problems such as road accidents are associated with illicit drug consumption”, he said.
The Governor warned all miscreants and criminal elements that Plateau will remain a no go area for them as he shall not rest until all drug peddlers are defeated.
“We shall use all the resources and instruments available to us to deal decisively with anyone found threatening the peace of our people whether under the influence of drugs or otherwise”, he said.
Earlier, the Plateau State NDLEA boss, Alhaji Ibrahim Braji, said the forfeited drugs seized from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 consists of Cannabis Sativa 3, 592.862kg, Psychotropic substances 13,104.799kg and Cocaine 7.2 grams totaling 16,697.639kg.
Braji said 40.12 acres of Cannabis sativa plantation were discovered and destroyed in some LGAs of the State in 2017, 2018 and 2019 estimated to be 117,347.4kg.
“The Command arrested 1,530 suspects from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and convicted 423 suspects to various jail terms and there are still pending cases before the Federal High Court for arraignment, trial and prosecution”, he said.
Skynewsafrica