By Citizenship, in Yola
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested over 583 and successfully prosecuted 225 drug offenders to various terms of sentences in Adamawa state.
State Commander of the Agency, Barrister Aliyu Abubakar disclosed the development at a press conference in Yola Wednesday as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking stressing that the Agency had secured final forfeiture of six(6) vehicles of different brands used for drug crimes to Federal government as a proceeds of crime.
Commander Abubakar said that the sum of N1,213,875 was also forfeited to the Federal government from proceeds of crime which has since been deposited in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) noting that fight against drug Abuse is a collective responsibility which needs all stakeholders in the society.
Abubakar stated that from last year 2024 June to this year’s month of June, his Command has undertaken integrity test to various groups and institutions to reduce the risk of drug Abuse pledging to collaborate with the school principals through state Ministry of Education to establish “Drug prevention desk official to be manage by teachers ‘across the state.
“In 2025/2026 yearly plan,one of the evidence based proposed is through the state Education by establishing drug prevention desks across all secondary schools in the state.This can be done through training of at least 1,000 teachers to act as “Prevention Ambassadors” to be trained and certified by NDLEA/UNODC.
“This year’s Slogan or theme for the commeration”Break the circle ” is a call to every Nigerian leaders, families, communities etc to act decisively and now a drug free Adamawa is possible but only if we act now”. Abubakar declared.
He explained further that under the period under review (2024 to 2025), the command has admitted 53 drug dependent persons consisting of 51 males and two females for treatment and rehabilitation assuring that his new strategy will focus on uprooting the sources of the supply of illicit drugs not arresting the peddlers.
While acknowledging the efforts put by the Adamawa state government through the State Drug Control Committee, ASDC C. Abubakar decried the rise of a locally produced drug methamphetamine known as “Synthetic drugs boom” which he said are mostly hidden in residential areas.
The Commander therefore called on stakeholders to invest in prevention by educating the youth on the dangers of drug Abuse and illegal trafficking and to dismantle the criminal networks exploiting the challenge in our societies.
Our Correspondent in Yola reports that the State Commander led a colorful road walk in company of sister security agencies personnel including the NSCDC Army, police, DSS, Media,Red cross as well as immigration and correctional services.
