AbdulRahman pledges support for drug war
In furtherance of the effort to reduce drug supply and consumption in the society, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command has carried out public destruction of hard drugs worth over N2 billion in street value.
The public burning of the illicit substances which were seized from various suspects arrested by the anti-narcotics agency took place at the Sobi Barracks, Ilorin Wednesday, November 30.
In his opening address, the Kwara State NDLEA commander, Ibrahim Alhaji Saidu said the 24,616,111 Kilograms of various illicit drugs were exhibits confiscated between 2012 and 2022, whose cases had been concluded with public destruction sanctioned by the Federal High Court, Ilorin, adding that the drugs comprised 23,182.2691 Kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, 1.822 Kilograms of Cocaine, 0.203 Kilograms of Heroine and 1,431,8169 of different classifications of psychotropic substances.
Operatives wetting the exhibits
He further revealed that the illegal products were exhibits seized within the state during routine raid operation and interdiction duties by operatives of the agency from drug peddlers, stressing that a total of 1,848 suspects were arrested in connection with different drug offences and they were duly prosecuted as 127 of them had been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
He stated that between January 1st and November 30, 2022 a total of 365 arrests were made with 1,691.288 Kilograms seized as 44 convictions were recorded so far.
In his final remark, the commander appreciated the AbdulRahman-led administration for its continuous support to the command.
Gov. AbdulRahman and other dignitaries igniting the exhibits
For his part, the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the impacts of drug menace in the society is ‘huge and destructive’ and the peace of state depends on the aggressive war against drug abuse and supply, thereby pledging his administration’s resolve to sponsor a radio programme in partnership with the NDLEA to sensitise the teeming youth on the resultant hazards in the consumption of hard substances.
He, however, commended the Chairman of NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa for putting the drug war in top gear since he assumed office in 2021.
Speaking on various categories of hard drugs and their health dangers, the Assistant Director, Forensic Analysis, Patricia Afolabi, classified the various substances of abuse into narcotics, inhalants, stimulants, sedatives designer drugs, unconventional drugs, Anabolic steroids, Cannabis and Hallucinogens, noting that they all affect the central nervous system and ignite the neuro transmitter in the brain causing antisocial behaviour in their users.
Gov. AbdulRahman delivering his speech
She also explained that ‘Rape Drug’ is common among young ladies as it enables them to have unconscious non-stop sex with opposite gender.
The State Deputy Commander, Operations and Training, Adewale Adebimpe in her closing remarks, thanked the state governor, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-gambari and all the sister agencies present at the exhibits burning ceremony.
