Emeka Ibemere
When early in January 2013, the Lagos State Command of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, declared their intention to clean
Lagos State and its metropolis of illicit drug trafficking, many didn’t take
them seriously until the agency started a manhunt of drug abusers and
traffickers within the state.
Then Ahmed Giade paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and promised him of a huge fight against drug
traffickers in the state.
According to Giade, the agency was in the state earlier this year to
intimate the governor about the rate of drug trafficking through the state 11 months
after that visit, the situation has gradually reduced to a negligible level.
“I was here in January to inform His Excellency, Governor Fashola of
the drug situation in the State then. The situation today is better and this
donation is the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the Lagos State Government.
I can assure you of a vibrant and promising anti-drug campaign in the State”,
Giade promised the governor.
Led by the
commander of the Lagos State NDLEA, Mr Aliyu Sule, the operatives began a
crackdown and to make things worse for the local barons and traffickers, the
command embarked on raiding the dark spots and some areas notorious for drug
running in Lagos State.
On June 2013, the agency in conjunction with the Nigerian
Army, the police and other security agencies tore the entire Lagos metropolis
and by the time, the raid ended in that month, huge illicit drugs of 3,166.15kg
were seized while 47 suspects were arrested.
“The Agency will not relent in this all-important fight
against the scourge of narcotics” Giade stated when he was briefed about the
suspects. The NDLEA boss
explained that experts are of the opinion that criminal acts like rape, murder,
armed robbery and terrorism are aggravated by substance abuse. He also urged
members of the public to be vigilant and report suspected drug cases to the
nearest NDLEA office.
As that was
not enough, Operatives of the Lagos State Command
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and military officers again
conducted raid in search of drug barons and their drugs. The joint operation embarked
upon in November was very successful as 15 suspected drug traffickers were
apprehended with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis. Among the
recovered drugs were 316 grammes of methamphetamine and 200 grammes of heroin
while others are cannabis.
The
areas covered by the raid are Akala and Akerele Agege, Lagos. The NDLEA Lagos
Commander, Mr Aliyu Sule said that the operation was in response to
intelligence report received on the affected locations.
“We daily
collect and process information on the activities of drug traffickers and
conduct raid when it is expedient. The total weight of drugs seized is
680.266kg. Those apprehended are being investigated and very soon they will be
charged to court” Aliyu stated.
The Army
Commander in charge of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade has assured
the NDLEA that he will always provide army officers whenever their support is
required. In his words, “the Nigeria Army will continue to lend its support to
the anti-drug campaign. The level of success anytime we go on joint operations
encourages us to deepen our relationship with the NDLEA” Oyebade stated. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade thanked the
Brigade Commander for his continuous support to the Agency. “The support from
the Nigeria Army is commendable. We shall continue to conduct similar raid
operations on locations where drugs are sold and abused. This partnership with
the Army shall be sustained and strengthened.
As at the ending year, 420 suspected drug traffickers with
8,300.277kg of various drugs in the past 10 months were held. Within the
period, 69 persons were convicted for drug related charges while other cases
are pending.
NDLEA commander in the State, Mr. Sule, who
gave the statistics, described drug abuse in Lagos as alarming. According
to Sule, “the problem of drug abuse in the State is alarming. Between January
and October the command arrested 420 drug traffickers comprising 387 males and
33 females.
Daily
Newswatch gathered that a total of 8,300.277kg of drugs were also seized.
The drugs
include 8,186.320kg of cannabis, psychotropic substances 73.450kg,
methamphetamine 34.016kg, heroin 4.688kg and cocaine 1.803kg”.
The
commander equally thanked the Nigerian army for collaborating with the Agency
in the State.
“Within the
period under review, we have had two successful joint operations with the
military. The first raid carried out in June 2013, led to the seizure of
3,166.15kg and arrests of 47 suspects. Another raid in November led to the
arrest of 15 suspects with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis”.
NDLEA
Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said the Agency will continue to partner
with the Army and other security organizations. In his words, “the support of
Army Commander in charge of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade has
aided the successful raid of sensitive locations like Akala and Akerele Agege,
Lagos”.
Giade
called for the assistance of government and private sector in finding a lasting
solution to the drug abuse problem. According to him, “we need the support of
government and private sector in the construction of an ultra-modern
rehabilitation Centre in Lagos. This is needed to effectively address the
problem of drug abuse in the State. The Agency is also working very hard to
prevent drug supply to the State”. The
NDLEA boss also called on parents to inculcate discipline in their children.
It will be
recall that in September, the Lagos
State Governor Babatunde; Raji Fashola supported the Lagos State Command with logistics in the global fight against
drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
The Executive Governor of Lagos State and the stakeholders
in the drug war on Monday September, 30, 2013 at the Lagos State Secretariat
Alausa, the seat of power in Lagos, called for serious campaign by all and
sundry in the drug war.
Fashola of Lagos State then didn’t hide his emotion when he lent
his voice to the campaign against drug trafficking and abuse. The Governor who
expressed his disgust over merchants of death, recommended for stiffer penalty
for drug offenders.
Fashola described the relocation of illegal drug production factories
from the State as refreshing.
“I am in support of your
campaign for stiffer punishment for drug traffickers. In the face of global
insecurity, it is impossible not to put a sharper focus on the role drugs play
in crime. In most cases, taking human life is done under the influence of
drugs. It is therefore refreshing to note that the perpetrators of these
illegal drug laboratories are relocating from Lagos” Fashola stated.
To show his commitment in the fight of the dreaded business of illicit
drug trafficking, he presented two Toyota Hilux Vehicles to the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The vehicles are to assist the Agency in
launching attacks on drug traffickers in the State; a gesture that surprised
the entire agency in the State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade who received the vehicles
at the Lagos State Government House, Alausa from the Chairman, Lagos State
Security Trust Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey said that the discovery of four
Clandestine Laboratories and the arrest of the operators including three
Bolivians in the State had forced the drug syndicates to relocate to other
areas.
According to Giade, the state of Lagos, presents an unusual challenge
for the Agency because of certain characteristics that drug barons find
attractive in the state. Hear him. “Lagos has a large rich population. Besides,
the presence of seaports, airport and land borders are conditions that attract
drug barons”, he stated. “The discovery of four Clandestine Laboratories for
methamphetamine production had forced most of them to relocate from Lagos”.
According to the drug Czar, the intelligence report at the
agency’s disposal concerning the drug barons and their traffickers revealed
that most of the barons are on the run to the other neighbouring states.
He said the systematic raid operations of the NDLEA operatives on some
dark spots shall be launched against the suspected traffickers and their chief
barons in the state no matter wherever they may hide as the action is
expedient.
The NDLEA boss added that the contribution of the governor marks the
beginning of a long cordial and promising relationship between the Agency and
the Lagos State Government. The Governor said that the donation was in response
to logistic challenges faced by the Agency.
“We are aware of your challenges and we have approved two
vehicles to assist your men in their operational activities. We are also
monitoring because it is a result driven collaboration. Expect more support
from the State if we see positive result in respect of these two vehicles,”
Fashola assured.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for
the arrest.
“The Agency will continue to
arrest drug traffickers and charge them to court. This arrest is commendable.
Members of the public must note that it is wrong to raise capital from drug
trafficking because anyone that ventures into the criminal act will end up
regretting in jail,” Giade warned. The anti-drug boss also urged stakeholders to partner with the Agency
in fighting against drug trafficking, money laundering and related crimes.
Meanwhile, the
agency has called for a joint training and centralized criminal databank for security
agencies in the country. This according to Giade would promote the spirit of
comradeship; enhance safety, peace and security. The NDLEA boss made the
suggestion while receiving members of the Committee for the development of a
National Policy on Public Safety and Security headed by Professor Femi Odekunle
at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
According to Giade, peace and security could be enhanced when security
agencies put national interest above organizational considerations.
“Public peace and security can be improved when security agencies work
towards national interest. This can be achieved through joint training and
centralized criminal databank. Above all, joint training makes officers
irrespective of their units whether anti-narcotic, police, customs, immigration
and others relate as course mates”.
The NDLEA boss also stated that respect for the rule of law by security
operatives would enhance public safety and security in the country.
Chairman of the committee, Professor Femi Odekunle said that his panel
would collate and present suggestions on how best to promote public safety and
security.
“Government is determined to end the problem of violent inter-communal
conflicts, deadly unending terrorism with its emergent disturbing international
dimensions. This committee will collect, collate and make necessary
recommendation to the government,” Odekunle stated.
The Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Police Affairs to
develop a National Policy Document for Public Safety and Security. Its main
objective is to define a roadmap towards the attainment of optimum public
safety and internal security. Other objectives include provision of roles and
action-guidelines for security Agencies, assigning roles to stakeholders as
well as streamlining rules of engagement to avoid friction.
Members of the committee include Dr Kemi Rotimi, DIG Atiku Kafur,
Alhaji Musa Sharfi, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ndubuisi Nwanedo and Mr.
Olusade Adesola.
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