The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has revealed that it arrested about 46 drug barons in the last three years.
The agency also said about 50,901 suspects were arrested with 9,034 convicted, and 7561 tons of drugs seized in the period under review.
Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated this on Friday at a Behavioural Pattern Initiative seminar organised by the Advocacy for Positive Behavioural Pattern Initiative (APBPI) in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board.
The seminar, was held at the Government Secondary School Gwarimpa, Life Camp, Abuja, and had in attendance hundreds of students and representatives from government organisation.
Babafemi, represented by the Deputy Commander, Narcotics and Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy, Chidi Ndukwu, observed that there is nexus between drug abuse, armed robbery, terrorism and kidnapping.
According to him, a recent survey indicated that people of ages between 15–64 are mostly involved in drug abuse especially youths between ages 25–39.
He said the agency in its cause of work had observed remnants of drugs in insurgents camps after raid operations and security clearances, adding that there have been cases of withdrawal symptoms shown by suspects in detention facilities.
“We must understand that nobody wakes up any day and decides to kidnap 300 students or kill 50 people. There is always an underlying factor or factors, one of which is drug abuse.
“Our response has been to reduce demand for drugs and supply. Under supply reduction in 38 months of operation under Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), 50,901 suspects have been arrested including 46 Barons. 9,034 convicted, 7561 tons of drugs seized and 1,057 hectares of farms destroyed”, he stated.
On her part, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Leadership and Citizenship, Rinsola Abiola, urged schools to set up mechanisms to address incidents of bullying and other related negative attitudes in schools.
She said the call became necessary following the recent incident of bullying recorded in a school in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The presidential adviser said bullying is not a generally positive development and should be discouraged and condemned.
“It is very important that schools set up mechanisms to properly address these issues before they become a public matter where Nigerians will start weighing in directly.
“As Nigerians and parents, when it comes to young people, we have to be very sensitive and mindful in how we approach those issues,” she said.
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