The Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Bauchi State, Ali has said that the command through constant intelligence-led raid operations on black spots and identification drug dealers, has arrested 162 suspects with a seizure of 673.499kg of different classes of drugs from August 2022 to date.
Manu disclosed this at the inauguration of a Taskforce to work out modalities of curtailing and tackling the sale and consumption of Illicit drugs across the state held at the new Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
The NDLEA commander, who is chairman of the task force, stated that NDLEA as a leading agency in the war against drug abuse and trafficking, cannot win the war alone, hence the need for the support of all and sundry, particularly, government, NGOs, religious bodies and sister security agencies to enable it to raise awareness and share information on the cancerous menace of the spectre of illicit substance abuse and trafficking to people, immediate environment and the nation at large.
“It is worthy of note that the issue of illicit substance abuse and trafficking should be taken with all the seriousness it deserves. The damage being created by illicit drug consumption and trafficking is very evident in our daily lives. These manifest is Psychiatric problems in our youths, dysfunctional families, depression, sudden death, health issues, poverty, crime and criminality, unfitness for employment, corruption, and electoral violence among other issues. These various exigencies have led to crises all over the world including Nigeria.
“At this point, we must appreciate the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON (Kauran Bauchi) for his keen interest and immense logistics support rendered to the State Command towards eradicating illicit drug abuse and trafficking.
“I want to also use this opportunity to appreciate the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer. Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) for repositioning the Agency and bringing in a new zeal into the personnel of the Agency to rededicate themselves to fighting the scourge of illicit drug abuse and trafficking. Indeed, the war is on and these purveyors of death and destruction are warned to steer clear of Bauchi State or be ready to face the wrath of the law.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim, who inaugurated the committee, said the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed was disturbed by the prevalence of the sale and consumption of illicit drugs in the state, hence the need to approve the formation of the task force.
He said the task force was to complement the efforts of the NDLEA in the state in the fight against illicit drugs considering its detrimental consequences on the socio-economic development of the state so as to put an end, to the ugly situation.
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“The Committee’s terms of reference include, intercepting illicit drugs in transit, suspected warehouses, shops and residences, arresting persons involved in the business for prosecution, arresting persons found consuming illicit drugs and map-up strategies of checkmating the activities of the sellers and consumers of the drugs in the State.
“Others are to devise ways of blocking the supply of illicit drugs in the state, advise Government on how best to treat and rehabilitate dependent persons in order to reduce the numbers of drugs users as well as give advise on the professional ways and means of the revitalization of policies and programmes aimed at controlling illicit drugs sale and consumption in the state in addition to sensitizing the general public on the increasing menace of drug abuse/trafficking and its negative consequences,” he said.
