The Nigeria Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) embarked on a campaign to reduce illicit
hard drugs consumption by youths through various programmes.
The agency’s
Commandant in Abia, Florence Ezeonye, disclosed the initiative in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba, Abia on
Wednesday.
Mrs Ezeonye said
the agency had already organised a counselling and sensitisation
programme for National Youth Service Corps members in their orientation
camp in Abia.
She also said that
the agency recently raided many hideouts used by drug peddlers in Aba,
adding that 18 drug addicts and drug dealers were arrested during the
raid.
The commandant
further said that during the raid, 18 bags of substances suspected to
be cannabis weighing 148 Kilogrammes were seized.
She said that
crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping would not be successfully
fought in the society without first tackling drug abuse.
“This is because most of these criminals act under the direct influence of dangerous drugs,” Mrs Ezeonye said.
She said that the consequences of stimulants abuse were virtually the same and had rendered many youth useless.
She said that the
agency was also charged with the responsibility of controlling narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances and reducing their demand in Nigeria.
“We have identified
adolescents and youths as the most vulnerable groups and NYSC camp is
one of the most suitable avenues to educate them on the dangers,” she
said.
Mrs Ezeonye
explained that hard drugs consumption would be difficult to reduce in
the state, particularly in Aba, if users are not properly educated.
“We call on the state and local governments and citizenry to see the
need to assist us, and to give us reasonable and valid information to
achieve results,” she said.
