From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
The Bauchi Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it seized a total of 4,465kgs of cannabis, substances and drugs in the state during the preceding year.
The State Commander of the Agency, Mr. Segun Oke while giving the figure Thursday, gave the breakdown as cannabis 2,035kgs, psychotropic substance 1, 290 kgs while other drugs have 722kgs.
Mr. Oke who was speaking during an interactive session with the media as part of the activities marking the 2019 International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking. The United Nations had in 1987 declared June 26 of every year as the commemorative day of the declaration.
He ecalled that the command has during the year under review undertook activities mostly preventive through awareness creation, and corrective measures such as search, arrest, seizure, and in some cases prosecution to curb drugs menace in the society.
He explained that the command in the coming year will also carry out activities such as sensitization in places of worship, parks, schools, and engage youths, traders and other stakeholders, as well as synergize with other law enforcement agencies for support to the command.
Mr. Oke revealed that his command has 9 other operating commands across the 20LGAs of the state against porous points bordering the neighbouring states of Plateau, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna to tight-up entry into Bauchi.
“When you talk about drugs, the most sensitive thing is supply, that is to make sure that those drugs are sufficiently prevented from coming in, so our deployment is conscious of these border lines”, he said.
He explained that the Bauchi command also embark on staff development programmes with a view to sharpen and prepare the officers for the tasks that will arise as a result of the deployment to the operational offices.
The coming year, he further disclosed, will see the engagement of stakeholders into seminars and workshops, as the command will also synergize with other law enforcement agencies such as police, civil defense, DSS, and the Army,
“These agencies have their specific roles, but we need to expose them to some of the things we do, that they may find in the course of their specific roles as a support to us”.
Oke therefore called for cooperation from all stakeholders, in the fight against drugs abuse and illicit drugs trafficking, especially the press to be able to reach to the general public.
