The chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), has said that more than 8, 000 persons were arrested for drug-related offences between January and August.
Marwa who disclosed this yesterday during a town hall meeting in Badawa community, Nasarawa local government area, Kano State also said over two million kilograms of assorted drugs were seized from the suspects during the period under review.
He said some 1,600 of the suspects had been convicted.
The NDLEA chairman blamed unemployment as one of the main causes of drug abuse in the country.
“War against drug abuse and trafficking is our collective responsibility and is for our betterment, because even criminal activities were as a result of drug abuse,” he said.
He further stated that the agency was working towards the establishment of ‘War Against Drug Abuse’ committees in every community in Nigeria.
He said the committees will be headed by traditional rulers while religious leaders will be among the members.
he added that the committees will work with NDLEA to sensitise residents on the dangers of drug abuse and provide information on drug dealers, abusers, and traffickers.
