Bayelsa: NDLEA Boss reels-out achievements

 

Bayelsa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Matthew Ewah, says the command arrested no fewer than one hundred and ninety-three  suspected drug abusers in the state

Mr Ewah, stated this during a press briefing in commemoration of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at his office in Yenagoa, with its theme “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention”.

The State Commander of NDELA, described the theme as apt and timely, as it focuses on treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy, offering alternatives to punishment and prioritising prevention, among others. 

Mr Ewah, commended Bayelsans for their support to the command,  hinted that the arrest which comprised one hundred and sixty-eight  males and twenty-five females, were made between July last year and June this year.

According to him, the command seized a total of 88.019 kilogrammes of illicit substances which were made up of Canabis sativa (54.298kgs), cocaine (0.014kgs), Heroin (0.027kgs), Methamphetamine (0.128kgs), Tramadol (1.872kgs), Diazapam (6.952kgs), Swino/Raphinol 0.023kgs, Exol-5 (0.6kg), Pentagocine (1.65kgs), Mixtures of C/S and alcohol (22.455kgs) and ampules of injection13, 460ml.

The State NDLEA chief executive, who briefed alongside the Deputy State Commander in charge of Operations, Bertha Afiesimama, and the chairman of the Bayelsa State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Mrs Faith Izibenua, also said that the command filed thirty-two cases and secured nine convictions, while twenty-eight cases were pending before the courts.

He said, four suspects were arrested with three locally-made pistols, one battle axe and eleven cartridges, and one case of kidnap were all tran to the police.

According to him, the command under its Anti-Drug Activities carried out one hundred and fifty drug-prevention education programmes in schools, marketplaces, communities, worship centres and media houses.

Mr. Ewah also remarked that the command, in conjunction with a Yenagoa-based non-governmental organisation, Brighter Future, also took its War Against Drug Abuse campaign to the Bayelsa State Pilgrims Welfare Board.

“The command also offered three months’ Counselling Intervention Services to eight drug-dependent persons selected and sponsored by the NGO from Amarata and Amassoma communities in a bid to sharpen awareness on drug abuse in the communities and the need to stay drug-free in the society”, he said.

The NDLEA chief, who revealed that a number of activities had been lined up to mark this year’s event in the state, including a Road Walk on Monday, also noted that the command admitted 16 drug dependents and rehabilitated 15 of them while one underwent referral in the past one year.

While disclosing that six clients were undergoing rehabilitation and care, he said the command also counseled one hundred and sixty-three suspects, one hundred and fifty-one males,  twenty-one females, called for more partnership to combat the menace.

On her part,  chairman of the State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Mrs Faith Izibenua, said the body was making determined efforts to curb the menace of drug abuse through sensitisation and rehabilitation of youths struggling with addiction.

Mrs Izibenua, also said  the committee had been working with the NDLEA and other relevant agencies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other stakeholders to tackle the scourge.