The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kogi State Command has revealed that 149 suspects have been arrested with a total of 2, 699kg of assorted hard drugs in the last six months in the State.
The state Commander of the agency , Mr Abdulkadir Abdullahi Fakai, disclosed this during a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja to mark the beginning of a week long activities in celebration of the 2022 United Nations Day Against drug Abuse and trafficking.
According to him , the theme of the celebration “Addressing Drug Challenges In Health And Humanitarian Crisis” was carefully chosen to mark the 2022 UN Day of fight against drug abuse, noting that 149 drug suspects made up of both males and females were arrested with the 2,699kg assorted drugs between January and June , 2022.
He added that the assorted drugs include codeine, Methamphetamine, Exol-5, Diazepam, tramadol, Cannabis sativa, Pentazocine amongst others, noting that the agency recorded the highest seizure of 948.956kg in April followed by 307.815kg in May while the list of 59.973 kg was recorded within the month of June, 2022.
According to him , the command has tried and convicted 29 accused persons while other cases are still pending at the Federal High Court Lokoja, Kogi state.
“The drug situation in Nigeria and indeed Kogi is disturbing, especially being a microcosm of Nigeria, and as a federating unit, Kogi cannot stand alone in the face of this ominous threat of drug abuse and trafficking.
“The implication on security, economic and the general wellbeing is dire. Statistics and empirical facts from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency operations indicate clearly that drug problem is mutating into a colossal social problem.
“It has become an issue linked beyond doubt to escalation of insecurity and its attendant effects on peace and economy across the country, ” he said
He however enumerated some successes recorded within the period to include arrest/seizure of a J5 bus, intercepted along Okene/Lokoja-Abuja expressway conveying 750kg of dried weeds (Indian Hemp), interception of 29 pieces of sewn military camouflage uniforms in a truck and arrest of a jail breaker.
Fakai, however, called on the general public for cooperation, support and provision of useful information to the agency whenever they see or hear something strenge
He said that all hands must be on deck as the Agency cannot do it alone, but the government at all levels, traditional institutions, Religious and opinion Leaders, NGOs must give a helping hand to ensure a drug free Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.
