The Kogi State Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has recovered illicit drugs worth over N3 billion naira in the State.
The Kogi State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Alfred Adewumi disclosed this while briefing journalists on Monday in Lokoja.
Adewumi stated that the total weight of the illicit drug exhibit recovered within the period of January 1 2020 to December 2020 stands at 313,368.759 kg and worth over N3 billion naira.
According to him, his men also arrested a total of 174 suspects, comprising 162 male and 12 female for the period under review.
He added that the command was able to secure 15 convictions, while 17 other cases are still pending in court, stressing that where it was possible to trace and connect any of their assets to drugs, these have been seized and that some vehicles have actually being forfeited to the federal government, while some others are still under interim forfeiture.
Mr. Adewumi noted that the command carried out short intervention counselling for 126 persons and successfully rehabilitated 3 others within the year.
“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 said.
He stressed that the command hays stoically and very effectively manned the gateway between the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria and foiled the many attempts by unscrupulous drug dealers to flood the streets of the nation with drugs and turn her citizens into addicts.
He said the appointment of Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa, rtd, as Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA had engendered hope, provoked new altitude of impetus and driven the adrenaline level for performance of officers and men of the agency.
