BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
Eight minors and 34 female suspects are among the 226 suspected drug peddlers who have so far been arrested this year by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ebonyi State Command.
The Commander of NDLEA in the state, Umar Isa-Adoro, made the disclosure in Abakaliki, while revealing the command’s activities in 2021.
Isa-Adoro, who warned parents to ensure that they take good custody of their children, disclosed that the 226 suspects are between ages 13 and 75, 184 of whom are men.
According to Isa-Adoro, a total of 17 illicit drugs, weighing 210.944kg, were seized at different locations in the state from the suspects within the time under review.
He said that the command dragged 44 suspects before a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki.
According to him, 20 of the suspects were convicted while 24 cases were pending in courts.
The NDLEA chief, who urged members of the public to refer drug addicts to the agency for rehabilitation, said that the command, in the year under review, successfully rehabilitated 10 youths.
Expressing the command’s readiness to ensure that drug abuse was stemmed in the state, Isa-Adoro said that shortage of utility vehicles and limited space at the rehabilitation centre, nonchalant attitude of stakeholders, distance and limited space, among others, were major impediments against the command.
He called for urgent intervention by both the federal and state governments, philanthropists and corporate bodies to help in addressing the logjam.
He said, “In the war against drug abuse, we have sensitised all registered hotels and hospitality operators in the state, association of patient medicine dealers, churches, schools and mosques. Between the months of February and July, this year, we noticed an influx of minors, below 18 years, peddling drugs. We found out that the adults pushed them into it thinking that as underage persons, the law would be bent.
“Considering the level of arrest in the state, all hands must be on deck. Parents are advised to be alive to their responsibilities. We are also calling on our religious leaders to continue to preach against illicit drugs addiction, abuse and trafficking. Political leaders should team up with the NDLEA and be more supportive towards the sensitization and campaigns against illegal drugs in their communities.
“While appreciating the efforts of the state government, the command is still soliciting for more assistance, especially logistics and accommodation. The command will not rest until this monster called drug abuse is drastically reduced, thereby making Ebonyi State drug-free and a model for others.”
One of the suspects, Ikechukwu Emeka, said in an exclusive interview with The Point that he was into shoe making before a friend lured him into selling cannabis sativa.
He said, “I was arrested by the command on the 19th of last month (November) with cannabis. A friend introduced me to the business after I was duped early this year. I was into shoe business, when I was duped, a friend promised to help me. He said he had no cash to give me but he would waybill some goods through a bus for me to collect, distribute and make money.
“When the goods arrived Abakaliki, I went to receive it from the driver at the motor park not knowing that it was an illicit drug, so I was apprehended.”
