From Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Benue state has arrested 178 suspects and convicted 68 persons who are now serving various jail terms over drug trafficking related issue in the state in the last one year.
State Commander of the Agency, Mrs. Florence Ezeonye who disclosed this in her address to mark this year’s United Nations International day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking maintained that the command, in the year under review, arrested 178 suspects from different locations of the state comprising of 164 males and 14 females.
While noting that five cases were still pending in court, the state NDLEA boss explained further that the Agency seized 6, 085.9074 kg substance believed to be Cannabis Sativa, 350.392kg psychotropic substances and 1.4gramme of Cocaine while one Cannabis farm was destroyed and a total of drug substances weighing 6, 436.300kg was still in store awaiting destruction.
She explained further that 81 clients were counseled and released to their families while 26 were rehabilitated and seven others were still undergoing rehabilitation just as she regretted the escalating trend in the abuse of psychotropic substances and Cocaine which before now was not recorded in the state.
The NDLEA boss posited that cannabis sativa farms were mostly found in six local government areas of Gboko, Vandekiya, Buruku, Logo, Guma and Katsina Ala local government areas of the state.
Ezeonye expressed worry over the escalating spate of drug abuse among youths especially the abuse of the illicit gin known as Ogogoro, cannabis and cocaine in the state.
She averred that violent crimes are most prevalent among youths and are committed by those who take drugs even as she appealed to parents and guardians as well as stakeholders to pay attention to their wards and act swiftly as soon as they suspect that they were involved in drug abuse.
Ezeonye also enjoined the state government to assist in establishing a standard rehabilitation centre for the benefit of the citizens as the makeshift facility being used presently can only accommodate 20 people at a time because pressure from parents whose wards are drug victims continues to weigh down on the small facility.