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National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Anambra state Command, on Wednesday disclosed that a total of 360 suspects were arrested and 197 the suspects successfully prosecuted between June 2023 to June 2024.
State Commander, Onyishi Daniel Ogbonna made the disclosure at the United Nations Day For Drug and Illicit substances abuse, themed, “The Evidence Is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.
He also announced that 258 suspects were counselled/rehabilitated and 2.8557 tons drugs seized between the same period.
He said the feat was achieved through the morale boost of officers by NDLEA Chairman Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa and Anambra government led by Prof Chukwuma Soludo
who had been supportive with logistics.
He restated the Command’s unwavering commitment in combating of the drug menace, saying, “we believe that the best prevention is to ensure that illicit drugs are not available.”
He added, “This year’s commemoration is to raise awareness for a joined hand approach for effective prevention strategies. It calls for collaboration by government, public/private organizations and individuals for greater investment in prevention efforts.
“I call on ‘NDI-Anambra’, especially the President-Generals of communities to strengthen the existing security structure to make their communities uncomfortable for drug dealers.
“The command is willing and available not only to professionally handle the information you provide on the drug activities in your areas but also ready to sensitize your youths on the inherent dangers of drug abuse/trafficking.
“It is recommended that “Drug Wards” be established in all Government General Hospitals for the proper management of drug users to avoid dependency. This will take care of the challenge of non-availability of treatment centres for the drug challenge. The services in such centres should be affordable.”
Acting Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu said the institution was not only concerned with teaching, research and community service, but overall wellbeing of the students and staff.
Ikechebelu, representative by Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Solomon Nwigbo said, “The university has a Centre for Psychological Services and a Centre for Counseling and Career Development whose efforts, combining with other resources in the university, human and maternal have yielded the production and publication of the booklet, “Nnamdi Azikiwe University Drug Law Policy” unveiled today.
“The document which captures the overall intendment of the UN office on drugs and crime will find good use well beyond this institution, in other tertiary institutions, secondary schools and other organizations in the country,” he added.
Earlier, traditional ruler of Awka Kingdom, Gibson Nwosu who chaired the occasion, called for aggressive grassroots sensitization to ensure the menace was minimized to the barest minimum.
The monarch, represented by Palace Secretary, Chief Okonkwo Pius, blamed growing increase of killings, kidnapping and other vices to intake of drugs, especially among youths.
He called on stakeholders to put heads together to ensure all necessary interventions were put in place to fight drug abuse.
“I urge government at all levels to support the NDLEA through building of skills acquisition training institutions in the various commands to engage the youths meaningfully.
“I also call on federal government to reestablish technical schools and renovate the moribund ones. Thats why Ghana is better than us because in every youth there is a minimum of 3 skills,” he added.
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