The drug world of Abuja rich kids, top politicians

In continuation of an earlier investigative report on open sale and high abuse of narcotics in Abuja, Ripples Nigeria digs further to ascertain those behind the sale, consumption, and effects of narcotics in Nigeria’s political capital.

 

The report had revealed how the popular Banex Junction in Wuse II is notorious for sale of hard and illicit drugs, ranging from cocaine to Marijuana. The drug peddlers, it was reported, ply their trade under the watchful eyes of security agents who are always within the vicinity.

 

It was also noted in the report that at the gas station, where the peddlers hang around and wait for their old and new customers, a police van is stationed there 24/7.

 

Besides that, there are about four commercial banks within the area and each one has at least two police officers attached to them. But they look the other way whenever the peddlers hobnob with customers.

 

The National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confirmed the discoveries made in the story, but lamented that it is handicapped in fighting the growing menace of drug sale and consumption in Abuja.

 

Spokesman of the agency in Abuja, Mr Peter Adegbe, in a chat with Ripples Nigeria, stated that his agency carries out daily raid on the particular spot in Wuse II and arrests are made frequently.

 

He however lamented that the peddlers return to business two hours after their raid, adding that an unnamed kingpin has been arrested by the agency and will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution.

“We have made several arrests and we do that on a daily basis. On daily basis, we raid the place. The problem is that, the people know when we come and the moment we raid the place, we pick the sellers. In an hour or two, new sellers will return there. The only way to stop it is to mount a permanent checkpoint there,” he said.

Read also: Special report: Abuja thriving hard drugs districts unveiled

He continued: “We do not have the capacity to do that. We do not have the manpower and the vehicles to do the mounting.

 

“What we are concentrating on is how to remove the sale of hard drugs from the market. That is what we are trying to do. As I talk to you, we have arrested one of the kingpins. He is in our custody.

 

“Investigations are still going on. Certainly, that man will be prosecuted. We do this thing round the clock and because we do not wear uniforms, people do not see us do it. As I am talking to you, we will carry out another raid by2pm today.”

 

Even as the agency laments its handicap in human, material and financial capacity to tackle the growing menace in the city, more flanks are being opened for the illicit sale and use of hard drugs.

 

Further probe showed that the agency in efforts to rehabilitate drug users has a centre for the purpose, but sadly, only has bed space that can accommodate 21 rehabilitation patients. Though they charge only N15,000 per month, the facility is grossly insufficient to accommodate the hundreds of people who are waiting to access the facility.

 

It was also gathered that there are four other private rehabilitation centres within the city which seem to prefer to keep a low profile, probably because of the clientele that make use of their services.  Each one charges as high as N300,000 to 400,000 per month, which poor addicts cannot afford, therefore limiting their services to the rich.

 

The private rehabilitation centres are operated by medical doctors and psychologists, and addicts must have a sponsor before they can be admitted.

 

A probe into the victims of drug addiction shockingly showed that about 60 per cent of patients who access government-owned and private rehabilitation centres are children of top Abuja businessmen and politicians.

 

They however prefer to access the private centres where they sometimes spend over a year, and where their identities are usually concealed.

 

It was also discovered that politicians frequent the NDLEA Abuja office to ask for the release of their kids who are sometimes arrested in the process of buying substance from peddlers, and were picked during major raids by the agency.

 

Ripples Nigeria also found that another avenue for sale of such drugs in the city are VIP sections of major nightclubs, many of which are located in Wuse and Maitama Districts of Abuja.

 

They sell hard drugs to rich kids and politicians who frequent the places, and since not everyone is allowed into the VIP sections of such nightclubs, the operators ply their trade unhindered.

 

Security agencies, and the NDLEA seem to be well aware of the practice, but prefer to keep their distance because of the involvement of serving and influential politicians, businessmen and government officials, making it sometimes impossible to storm the nightclubs and make arrests.

 

A security source however alleged that bribes are sometimes offered to field operatives to look the other way, while the peddlers ply their trade.

 

Meanwhile the trade in and consumption of the drugs continues to thrive. While the peddlers and kingpins smile to the banks, the rich victims hide behind the walls of rehabilitations centres, while the poor victims, bemoan their fate as they look forward to score their next high, which could be their last.

 

Expect fresh updates on how the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration is tackling the menace and how other security outfits are assisting the NDLEA in the fight against sale and consumption of hard drugs.

By Ehisuan Odia….

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

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