NDLEA begins end of the year exhibit burning · Gets Oyo Governor’s support

Emeka Ibemere

Last week, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi defiled other state engagements in his protocol to observe the burning of exhibit drugs seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in the state.

He did it to show his concern in the fight against illicit drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

The number one security chief of Oyo state was in the event throughout the duration of the NDLEA’s annual burning of drugs retrieved from local barons in the ancient city of Oyo state.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade was so happy to be received by the governor. For Giade, the governor’s humility in the exhibit destruction event humbled the NDLEA boss. This is the first time a Governor in Nigeria would be physically present in such event.

The governor led other stakeholders in setting ablaze 14,632.386kg of forfeited drug exhibits in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. 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 programme against 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.

“In 2006, the Agency destroyed 2, 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 to 124, 082.386kg”, over 124,000kg of drugs has been burnt in the State since 2006 to 2013”. Giade explained.  

He pledged the agency’s 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 further stated.

NDLEA Commander in the State, Mrs Omolade Faboyede 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”, she stated. According to her, Beere, Oja-oba, Ayeye, Olomi Academy and Sabo all within the State are notorious for drug abuse and trafficking.

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. Stakeholders were also urged to support the campaign against illicit drugs in Nigeria.

Present at the event are Senator Ayo Adeseun, representing Oyo Central, Brigadier General Laz Iloh, Air Commodore Kayode Adedeji, Deputy Commissioner of Police Clement Adoda and other notable guests.

In October, NDLEA in the Federal Capital Territory, destroyed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances weighing 7,248.529kg which valued at N1.9bn.

The NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the drugs forfeited exhibits seized by both the FCT and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport commands of the agency.

Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who led other dignitaries in setting the drugs ablaze, also gave the breakdown of the drugs.

He said the public burning of the drugs was in compliance with a Federal High Court order. Cannabis took the largest share of the drugs at 7,183.5kg; psychotropic substances, 40.9kg; cocaine, 18.254kg; methamphetamine 4.7kg and heroin 1.175kg.

Giade said, “This exercise is a victory for the country.  It is a demonstration of the agency’s capacity to confront drug barons and confiscate the drugs which they so much cherish but which also destroy our youth.

“It also underscores the worthlessness of dealing in narcotics, knowing that the drugs will ultimately go down the drain just as the drugs are being reduced to ashes this day.”

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Col. A.S Kudu (retd.), urged all the area council chiefs to support the NDLEA.

FCT Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Dennis Obiefule, said the command had successfully rehabilitated 68 drug-dependent persons.

He said, “The FCT Command, between January and October 2013, successfully counselled and rehabilitated 68 drug-dependent persons, who have also been re-united with their family members.”

A total of 1,404.27 hectares of cannabis plantations were said to have been discovered and destroyed by the NDLEA in 2012.

In Ekiti State, 764 hectares which is about half the total farm land seized in the year was also destroyed.

The burning was witnessed by both local and international partners. The representatives of the United States Embassy, Du D. Tran; Director, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Police Attaché Embassy of France, Jean-Pierre Dubus; the Commander, Guards  Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Ateweh; the Ona of Abaji, AlhajiAdamuYunusa, among other dignitaries.

It would be recalled that last year in Ondo State, NDLEA had publicly destroyed over 46,740.52 kilogrammes of illicit drugs mainly cannabis.  While the same year in Kogi State, the burning ceremony was the destroying of 10,001.26 kilogrammes at Lokoja while 36,740.52 kilogrammes of cannabis were equally burnt at Akure the Ondo State capital.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade at both events warned cannabis cultivators and distributors in the country that the long arm of the law would bring them to book. The drug exhibit destruction according to the Agency was a demonstration of the country’s successful war over drug trafficking syndicates.
　Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and his counterpart in Kogi State Ibrahim Idris promised to assist the NDLEA through logistic support. They aligned with the anti-drug Agency on the ground that illicit drugs and crime are interrelated. Mimiko while decrying illicit cannabis cultivation in the State stressed that it is the handiwork of few criminal elements in the State.
　"The cannabis intercepted by the NDLEA in the State calls for concerted effort by all stakeholders. This is a handiwork of very few criminal elements in our midst that must be brought to book. We have met with the traditional rulers to assist in the campaign because we cannot afford to treat this problem with kid gloves" Mimiko stated. The Governor was represented by the permanent secretary in his office, Chief Olugbenga Ale.
　
Prominent traditional rulers in the State like the Olute of Ute, Oluwole Akirogbe and the Alayede of Ogbese, Professor Adetunbi Oloyede also threw their weights behind the campaign against cannabis cultivation in the State. Their presence was a strong inspiration to the Agency whose officers had suffered mob attacks during raid operations at various parts of the State.
　The NDLEA Director General, Mr. Femi Ajayi who presented the Chairman’s keynote address said that the threat of cannabis cultivation, trafficking and abuse in the State is real. "Available statistics at our disposal point to the fact that cannabis is competing for space with food and cash crops in Ondo State.
This threat to food security must be resisted by all and the NDLEA has taken the lead with aggressive destruction of cannabis plantations. Enough of a situation where cannabis plants will share arable farm lands with food and cash crops in the State. More cannabis farms shall be traced and destroyed in the days ahead." Ajayi vowed.
　
NDLEA Kogi State said that the exercise was the first time ever that the NDLEA will carry out public burning of forfeited drug exhibits since the establishment of the Kogi State command in 2003. "This is a welcome development as it is the first time forfeited drug exhibits are being destroyed in the State. We shall continue to seize drugs and publicly destroy them until drug barons quit the illicit trade" State Commander stated.
According to Giade, the staggering seizures of drugs made by the commands in recent times are disturbing. He however assured that the Agency is prepared to destroy drugs that drug barons so much cherish and are dying to get. "It is a wakeup call for all interest groups to intensify control measures. This is a triumph of good over evil and an attestation of Nigeria’s ability to ensure that hard drugs do not compromise the health, security and the economy of the nation" the NDLEA boss stated.
　
Ondo State according to the anti-drug Agency accounted for the highest quantity of drugs seized by the Agency in 2010 with a colossal figure of 67,979.795 kilogrammes of cannabis. In April 2010, the Agency publicly supervised the destruction of 31,000 kilogrammes of cannabis in the State. The Agency after burning 10,001.26 at Lokoja came to Akure to destroy 36,740.52 kilogrammes of cannabis in a bid to ensure hitch free polls in the country.
　
"These events could not have come at a better time particularly now that we are few days away from the general elections. It is crucial and urgent for us to take away illicit drugs from circulation as part of our contribution towards a crime free poll" Giade declared.
　
He also disclosed that the Agency will continue to take the incentive off the criminal trade through regular arrests and seizures. Efforts are also ongoing to discourage cannabis cultivation through crop substitution technique. In his words, "as part of our strategy, we are sending a team of officers abroad to understudy countries where crop substitution strategy had been employed successfully as a way of discouraging illicit drug cultivation. This will enable us perfect the implementation of a similar plan in our country".
　
The NDLEA boss urged the State authorities and farmers groups to intensify efforts towards effective monitoring of government forest reserves as most of them have been found to be used for cannabis cultivation. The Agency warned that those contemplating mob attacks on my officers must be ready to face the consequences of their illegal action as every weapon at its disposal shall be deployed in our offensive against drug barons.