The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has destroyed drugs and psychotropic substances weighing over 26 tonnes in Sokoto.
NDLEA boss, Brig. General Buba Marwa (rtd) said the quantity was unacceptably high considering the link between drug abuse and violent crimes in the state.
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Marwa who was represented by the deputy commander Narcotics, Josephine Ruth Obi, said that the drug situation in the state was compounded by its proximity to the neighbouring country, Niger Republic.
He said that the symbolic event was significant to ensure that all seized drugs are permanently out of circulation and stopped from doing any further harm to the society.
“The Act establishing drug agency demands that an order must be granted by a Federal High Court which enables the agency to publicly destroy all the drug seizure cases that had been concluded.
“Following the court order, we are gathered to destroy a gross drug of 26 tonnes, made up of cannabis sativa, and other varieties of psychotropic substances.
“The number of drug seizures, arrest and conviction of drug dealers in the state, validated the position of hard drugs as a conflict stimulator that fuels violent crimes, cultism in campuses and even domestic violence.”
The chairman lamented that over 5.2 million Nigerians abused all forms of psychotropic substances.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state commander NDLEA, Muhammad Iruo said the gesture is one of the cardinal policies or strategies of Brig Gen Buba Marwa’s administration to stop illicit drugs from possible circulation.
In his remarks, Governor Ahmed Aliyu said the large quantity of drugs seized by the agency was a matter of great concern.
He said more disturbing was the number of students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions who take these illicit drugs.
According to Governor Aliyu, “The negative impact of drug abuse by students include; extreme violence, banditry, rape, suicide, school dropout, stealing, poor academic performance, poor health and waste of resources.”