By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
The Kogi State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State command,says it has siezed illicit drugs worth N3b in Kogi state.
Mr Alfred Adewumi, the Commander of the agency in the state who made the disclosure on Monday in Lokoja, while addressing journalists put the total weight of such drugs, within January 1 2020 and December 2020 stood at 313,368.759 kg.
According to him,the command also arrested 174 suspects comprising 162 males and 12 females for the period under reviewe.
He added that the command secured 15 convictions and 17 cases pending in court.
According to him,where drug peddlers are traced,prosecuted and convicted,their assets have been seized and some vehicles forfeited to the federal government while some others are still under interim forfeiture.
Adewumi further disclosed that the command carried out short intervention counselling for 126 persons and successfully rehabilitated 3 others within the year.
He said:“The command carried out intense advocacy and sensitisation to traditional rulers and opinion influencers enlisting them to speak out against drug abuse
“A perpetually drunken parent who puffs away on marijuana can hardly pass for a good role model or call forth in the children the kind of awe and veneration that should be the due of a responsible parent
“Supportive parenting and monitoring of children’s behaviour can be a strong factor in lowering the rates of drug dealing and abuse, especially among youths.”
He stressed that the command had stoically and very effectively manned the gateway between the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria and foiled many attempts by unscrupulous drug dealers to flood the streets of the nation with drugs and turn her citizens into addict, junkies and dregs.
He said the appointment of retired Brig. Gen.Mohammed Buba Marwa as the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA had engendered hope and served as impetus that would enhance the performance of officers and men of the agency to a new high.