Chiemelie Ezeobi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),On Tuesday said it recently arrested 8,778 suspected drug traffickers, as well as seized 903,624.56 kilograms of narcotics from both sellers and dealers.
A further breakdown of the statistics of arrested suspects by the NDLEA Chairman, Col Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), who made this disclosure, revealed that while 8,143 were male, 635 others were female.
Abdallah said this at the briefing to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which is billed to be hold on Monday, June 25.
He gave the breakdown of seized drugs as follows; cannabis 871,480.32kg, psychotropic substances 30,652.93kg, ephedrine 785.10kg, methamphetamine 410.82kg, cocaine 260.47kg, heroin 30.09kg and amphetamine 4.83kg.
The NDLEA boss who said that the World Drug Day is for self-appraisal on how the country has suppressed illicit production and trade in narcotic drugs, said the agency has also won 1,690 cases prosecuted in 2015.
On the theme of the 2016 campaign ‘Listen First’, he said, “This theme focuses on drug abuse prevention and places a responsibility on parents, guardians, opinion leaders and stakeholders to listen to the views of persons with drug abuse problem with a view to helping them overcome drug use.
“Substance abuse is an equal opportunity ailment with medically certified preventive and treatment solutions.
This theme is a timely caution for persons who may be provoked by the involvement of their loved ones in drug abuse into treating them harshly and unconventionally.
“Lets listen to them and share in their pain as we take necessary steps in drug abuse counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.”
On the recently introduced drug support group called The Drug Anonymous Support Group he said this was for people who were dependent on the drug and want to be in remission.
“This is for people who are trying to remain in remission from drug dependency and use but need peer support assistance and encouragement to cope with the everyday pressures associated with illicit drug use.
“This affords them a platform of continuous help without fear of inhibition as this group provides a safe environment where their individual challenges and problems can be discussed and addressed.
“The week-long programme of event has been streamlined for greater impact to include a sensitisation road walk, campaign in mosques on Friday and in churches on Sunday. The grand finale which is Sunday, June 26 has been shifted to Monday, June 27,” he said.
Abdallah said notwithstanding the numerous challenges, Nigeria is championing the war against illicit drugs and will sustain the lead ahead of drug syndicates.
He said: “Let me reassure members of the public that the agency shall continue to intensify its intelligence gathering and management machinery. We shall unmask more faces behind the obnoxious drug trade and prosecute them.
“Our advocacy and sensitisation programmes shall also be expanded. We are doing everything to secure the future of our great country from the wicked clutches of drug trafficking and abuse.
“Most people have abandoned their enviable career due to substance abuse. Marriages have broken up and others are on the verge of breaking up because of drug use.
“Worst still, many people have been maimed and even lost their lives either by taking drugs or due to carelessness of those under the influence of narcotics.
“These adverse consequences would have been averted if only there were listening ears to persons with drug abuse problem.”
