BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ebonyi State Command, has said it arrested 162 suspects and secured convictions of 19 persons in the last eight months.
The state Commander, Iyie Uche, made this known during an interview with The Point in Abakaliki on theactivities of the Command since the beginning of the year.
He said 45 females and 117 males were nabbed for drug offences within the third quarter of 2023.
Uche advocated for an end to the era of stigmatisation, discrimination and called for strengthened prevention of the use of illicit drugs.
According to Uche, dangers of drug abuses and the need for people to quit drug addiction cannot be over-emphasised. He urged people to bring their drug addicted relatives for rehabilitation at NDLEA commands,nationwide.
The Commander disclosed that a total of 164.728kgs of illicit drugs of different kinds was seized by the command within the period under review.
“It is interesting to note that the Ebonyi State Command of the agency has remained undaunted in her efforts to sustain the onslaught against drug abuse in the state and for this effort, it received the CCEO’s Award of Excellence in drug demand reduction as the best performing state Command in 2021 and 2022.
“This year 2023, the Command has arrested 162, comprising 117 males and 45 females, with a total seizure of 164.728kgs of drugs. This Command has secured convictions of 19 suspects,” he said.
Demanding for a total stop to stigma and discrimination, Uche stated, “It is important and critical at this point in time, considering the colossal damage caused by drugs in our society today. For us in NDLEA, this is yet another opportunity for critical self appraisal of our operational activities and a veritable platform for feedback from members of the public, which will help provide the compass necessary to chart the appropriate direction as we endeavour to sustain the momentum of drug war in the state.
“This is in furtherance of the whole of society taming the drug scourge. NDLEA has significant investment in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The doors of our rehabilitation facilities are open at all times. We have prioritised treatment while our WADA advocacy initiative has been sensitising the people and equipping them with facts about drugs to enable them take the right decision against substance abuse.”
He urged people to drop the toga of stigmatisation and discrimination that discouraged drug users from seeking treatment.
