By Correspondent in Offa.
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it confiscated hard drugs worth N60 billion in two months as part of the nationwide campaign to stem the tide of illicit substance, sales and consumption.
Audience at the occasion.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Retired Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa, disclosed this on Sunday at the third Colloquium of Galaxy Clique, a social club in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Marwa, who spoke through the Kwara State Commander of NDLEA, Kayode Babayeju, at the event, themed “Hard Drug Abuse and Insecurity: A Siamese Twins”,also informed the gathering that 99 per cent of crimes committed in the country were under the influence of hard drugs.
He identified insecurity as a threat to the country and traced is as one of the root causes of drug abuse that had become prevalent in the society.
Marwa,who noted that criminals had been terrorizing various communities residents, urged the people not to shield them.
He added that excessive of use of drugs usually lead to abuse, identified cannabis sativa as the most abused drug in Nigeria, pointing out that it was imported after the second world war.
The NDLEA chief cautioned the citizens against the use of sedative and maintained, adding such action could endanger their well being.
“With consistent nationwide campaign, it is possible to separate drug abuse from insecurity, notwithstanding the belief that they are siamese twins. We need to talk to our youths to reduce drug abuse because insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery are linked to substance abuse”, Marwa noted.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Dr Waheed Olagunju, urged stakeholders to synergize, to ensure that the society was rid of the siamese twins of drug abuse and insecurity.
“Community, NGOs, three tiers of government and relevant agencies and even international based organizations should work together to tackle the menace”, he said.
Olagunju thanked the Galaxy Clique for its initiative and as well as NDLEA for its willingness to partner with the club in curbing drug abuse ravaging the community.
The Chairman of the club, Mutiu Olayemi Olabooye, who spoke through his Vice Chairman, Akeem Ayeleso Oyetunde said the programme, which he described as the flagship of the club was meant to examine topical issues in the society and providing solution to them.
He said this year’s topic was chosen to address various social vices and insecurity that bedeviling the country, situating the root cause of the problem at the doorstep of drugs addiction.
“We shall not relent in our collective resolve to return our society to the path of dignity and orderliness as bequeathed to us by our forbearers”, Olabooye said.
He recalled that the club was founded in 1987 when foundation members were still young undergraduates but expressed delight that it had turned to a frontline one among social clubs in Offa community.
The chairman expreeesed delight that members had been making waves in their different professional callings and Contributing to the developmnt of the society.
He said that the club planned to establish a rehabilitation centre, to cater for repentant drug addicts and subsequently reintegrate them to the society.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
