The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that Kwara State leads the entire northern states in the drug abuse index.
The Kwara State commander of the agency, Mr. Dandi Emmanuel, revealed at a conference in Ilorin on Wednesday as part of activities to mark the 2019 International Day against Drug Abuse.
He stated that in the last one year the command had seized a total of 4,290.471 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the state.
A breakdown of the seizures revealed that 4,214.45 kilogrammes of cannabis and 76.825 kilogrammes of cannabis psychotropic drugs were seized in the year under review.
Besides, he said a total of 91 suspects comprising 77 males and 14 females were arrested between July 2018 and June 2019.
“The command is in partnership with the Kwara State Drug Control Committee (KWSDCC) in the area of sensitization and advocacy programmes in the state. We commend the efforts of the committee.
“The committee against all financial obstacles becomes the best among its contemporaries in Nigeria. The committee has been selected to be a pilot standing committee for the entire North Central states of Nigeria including Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“It means that other states in the North Central and FCT will learn from Kwara state in their efforts to combat drug menace in their respective states. This feat is worth celebrating and recognition of the state government efforts in drugs control,” he said.
Also speaking, the chair of KWSDCC, Mrs. Barakat Olanrewaju decried the menace of drug abuse saying the consequences affect all and sundry in the society.
“It is expedient for all to collaborate with NDLEA to overcome the scourge ravaging the entire fabric of the nations of the world, especially Nigeria.
“The committee’s work is continuous in nature and in conjunction with NDLEA has taken anti-drug sensitization programmes to schools, worship centres, communities and market places in the state.
The committee also built the capacity of new members in drug control strategies,” she said.
