Oyo State Governor, AbiolaAjimobi and the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) AhmaduGiade have led stakeholders in setting ablaze 14,632.386kg of forfeited drug exhibits in Ibadan. The event is in compliance with a Federal High Court order that the drugs be destroyed publicly.
Ajimobi who received Giade in his office shortly before proceeding to the burning site along Ibadan-Lagos expressway promised to fund public enlightenment campaign against cannabis cultivation and drug abuse in all local government areas in the State.
According to the Governor, “there is a nexus between drugs and crime. We must do everything possible to support the Agency. I have approved a sensitization campaign programmeagainst cannabis cultivation and drug abuse in all local government areas in the State. The State is also going to construct a drug rehabilitation centre to address the problem of drug addiction”.
NDLEA Chairman while giving a breakdown of the drug said that the exercise will help to deter illicit drug trafficking. “Destroying drugs publicly is one of the Agency’s strategies of incapacitating drug trafficking cartels. It is a reassurance that illicit drugs will end up in the furnace. The burnt drugs consist of 14,624.664kg of cannabis, 7.050kg of psychotropic substance, 603.5 grammes of heroin and 69 grammes of cocaine” Giade stated.
Over 124,000kg of drugs has been burnt in the State since 2006. According to Giade, “in 2006, the Agency destroyed2,000kg of drugs.The largest quantity of 80,050kg was destroyed in 2008 while in 2011, 27,400kgwas also destroyed. Today’s exercise will bring the total quantity of drugs destroyed in the State since 2006 to124,082.386kg”.
NDLEA commander in the State, MrsOmoladeFaboyede lamented the use of drugs among the youth especially commercial drivers. “Oyo State has a frightening drug abuse problem but we have dismantled several drug joints where drugs are abused at Beere, Oja-oba, Ayeye, Olomi Academy and Sabo all within the State”.
The Agency pledged its commitment towards a safe and secured society through public enlightenment and strict drug law enforcement. “We shall intensify efforts in preventing cannabis crop cultivation in the country. While appealing to farmers not to cultivate cannabis; the Agency will continue to trace, destroy cannabis farms and prosecute perpetrators” Giade stated.
The NDLEA’s boss added that reputable bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA) and European Union are working to address the serious security threat posed by drug trafficking in the region.
Royal fathers, teachers, opinion leaders, parents, corporate organizations and individuals were called upon to support the anti-drug campaign.Stakeholderswere also urged to support the campaign against illicit drugs in our society.
Present at the event are Senator Ayo Adeseun representing Oyo Central, Brigadier General LazIloh, Air Commodore KayodeAdedeji, Deputy Commissioner of Police Clement Adoda and other notable guests.
