By Iffy.
The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has confirmed that no fewer than 72 suspects were arrested in connection with drug offences in the state in the span of three months.
The suspects, comprised of 52 males and 20 females whose age range falls between 17 and 60years, trafficked various degrees of the hard substance in many parts of the state.
The Command spokesperson, Okuwobi Mutiat, a Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, in a statement said;
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Oyo State Command, under the leadership of Abdullah Saeed arrested 72 suspects comprising 52 males and 20 females within the age range of 17-60 years for various drug offences which include dealing in cannabis sativa, cocaine, tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol, colorado, codeine, amphetamine, skoochies and cake mixed with cannabis within the third quarter of the year 2022 (July – September 2022).”
“The Command recorded total seizure of 502.076kg of cannabis sativa as well as other narcotic and psychotropic substances during the period under review”, he added.
Within same period 3.851 acres of cannabis sativa farmland located at Oluwo village, Ido local government area was destroyed in the month of September 2022.
“Equally, within same period 17 suspects were charged to court, 13 suspects were convicted for various drug offences with jail terms ranging from six months to four years imprisonment.”
The Command offered brief intervention in terms of counselling to 38 People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) made up of 30 males and eight females.
“We presently have six clients undergoing residential rehabilitation. They will be reintegrated into the society after successful completion of their rehabilitation.”
“Furthermore, the Command’s sensitisation programmes were extended to over 206 schools and some private organisations. In this regards, we urge schools and other organisations to give our officers some platform through which enlightenment of their students and workers within the state could be done. We also had some weekly radio and television programmes during this period”
“The State Commander, Abdullahi Saeed (Commander of Narcotics) advise the public to compliment the effort of NDLEA saying;
“We cannot afford to sit by and pretend that all is well when our youths are being hooked to drugs and their future being destroyed. It is our collective responsibility to make our land drug free. Join us in making Oyo State drug-free.”
