The Benue State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 251 suspects for various drug-related offences in 2024, the State Commander, Mrs. Esther Musa, has disclosed.
In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi, Musa stated that of the total suspects apprehended, 220 were male, while 31 were female. She revealed that 31 of the arrested individuals had been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms, while 39 cases were dropped. Several other cases remain under prosecution.
The NDLEA commander reported significant drug seizures throughout the year, with Cannabis sativa being the most commonly confiscated substance. The agency intercepted a total of 175.723 kg (approximately one ton) of cannabis, alongside other drugs, including Tramadol (43 kg), Fitamin (0.27 kg), Diazopharm (4.39 kg), and Codeine syrup (156.1 kg). Additionally, the command recovered locally made pistols, arms, ammunition, and explosives, which were subsequently handed over to the Nigerian Army and police for further action.
Musa stated that the command’s achievements in 2024 focused on arrests, seizures, prosecutions, and the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign. The WADA initiative, a national enlightenment campaign spearheaded by the NDLEA, aims to educate various groups on the dangers of drug abuse, trafficking, and cultivation. She noted that in 2024, the Benue Command conducted 142 sensitisation programmes, primarily targeting schools, religious centres, law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders.
She further explained that the agency’s supply reduction efforts emphasize sensitisation and advocacy, as it is more cost-effective to prevent drug abuse through education than to conduct arrests and seizures.
The commander also appealed to the Benue State Government, well-meaning Nigerians, and non-governmental organisations to assist in establishing a standard rehabilitation centre for drug users in the state. She revealed that the command currently operates a mini rehabilitation centre within its premises, but the facility lacks adequate resources. According to Musa, the centre does not have facilities for female clients, despite receiving multiple requests for rehabilitation services. Due to this limitation, the command is often unable to accommodate them.
She urged youths to resist the temptation of drug abuse, emphasizing its devastating impact on their health and future. “It is better to prevent drug abuse before it destroys lives. Every young person has a star in them, and drugs should not be the reason that star is dimmed,” she cautioned.
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