70% OF SCHOOLS IN NIGER,ESTABLISHES DRUG CLUB- SAYS NDLEA BOSS.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Niger State Command has revealed that Seventy percent of schools in the state has established drug club,aimed at cubing the drug menace in public schools.
Niger State Commander,NDLEA,Bwalin Musa,gave the hint while briefing journalists in his office in Minna,over the weekend,as part of activities to mark 2023 United Nation’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,with theme:”People First,Stop Stigmatization and Descrimination, Strengthen Prevention”.
Commander Musa disclosed that in recent term,the officers and men of the command had embarked on awareness campaign to secondary schools and Tertiary Institutions in the state to educate the students on the danger associate with the intake of illicit drugs,adding that,aside from the students,teachers and lecturars were not left out of the sensitization.
“Our interface with students,both in secondary schools and Tertiary Institutions had yielded result,because,seventy percent of schools across the state has established drug club, however,management of these schools were overwelmed with our visit and described the awareness campaign as a step in a right direction”.Bwalin added.
NDLEA boss pointed out that between January to June 2023,the command has arrested two hundred and fifty people engaged in illicit drugs,while,sixty four of them were convicted and are now remanded in correctional center.
He also noted that during the period under review,NDLEA Suleja Area Command has raided OYOYO filling station along Kaduna -Abuja express road that has been used as a transit point for dealers of India hemp, adding that during the raid,(4) suspects,with 29 bags of India hemp weighing (726) kilograms,and exhibits were arrested, and their are in the custody.
His words,in 2023 alone,we have made several arrest of youths and under aged, engaged in the intake of India hemp in Minna and environs,and enjoined members of the public to desist from stigmatizing those that are into drugs,but,bring them close to the society.
The state Commander further disclosed that the agency has recovered a total of (2,218.02) kilograms of India hemp in Niger State through various raid on some identified black spots where the illicit substances were been consumed.
Commander Bwalin revealed that the agency had witnessed unprecedented transformations under the leadership of General Buba Marwa,and assured that officers and men of the command would not relent in her efforts to cub the menace of illicit drugs across the nuck and cranies of the state.
He appealed to Niger State government to assist the command with operational vehicles to enable them raid the state of sales and consumption of illicit drugs.
Commander Musa explained that the synergy between the command and other law enforcement agencies in the state is perfect,he also lauded the traditional rullers for their tremendous support to the agency