Metro
NDLEA decries high rate of drug abuse in Kwara
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday decried high rate of drug abuse in northern parts of the country, calling all stakeholders not to relent in efforts to curtail the menace.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, the Kwara state Commander of NDLEA, Dandi Emmanuel said there is urgent need to device means to stop youths in the region from including in the illicit act.
Mr. Emmanuel added that in the last one year the command had seized a total of 4,290.471 kilograms of drugs in the state.
Giving the breakdown, the commander said that 4,214.45 kilogrammes and 76.825 kilogrammes of cannabis and psychotropic drugs were seized in the year under review.
He maintained that a total of 91 suspects comprising 77 male and 14 females were also arrested between July 2018 and June this year.
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His words: “The command is in partnership with the state Drug Control Committee (KWSDCC)in the area of sensitization and advocacy programmes in the state. We commend the efforts of the committee.
“The committee against all financial obstacles becomes the best among its contemporaries in Nigeria. The committee has been selected to be a pilot standing committee for the entire North Central states of Nigeria including Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It means that other states in the North Central and FCT will learn from Kwara state in their efforts to combat drug menace in their respective states. This feat is worth celebrating and a recognition of the state government efforts in drugs control.”
On her part, the state Chairperson of the KWSDCC Mrs. Barakat Olanrewaju decried the menace of drug abuse, adding that the consequences affect all and sundry in the society.
Represented by Grace Aliyu, Mrs. Olarewaju said “it is expedient for all to collaborate with NDLEA to overcome the scourge ravaging the entire fabric of the nations of the world, especially Nigeria.
“The committee’s work is continuous in nature and in conjunction with NDLEA has taken anti-drug sensitization programmes to schools, worship centres, communities and market places in the state. The committee also built the capacity of new members in drug control strategies.
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