28th December, 2022
By Auwalu Birnin Kudu
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it arrested 18,940 people for different drug related offences in the last two years.
Brig-Gen, Mohammed Buba -Marwa, the Chairman and chief executive of the agency, made this known in Yola on Tuesday while receiving an award of excellence in recognition of his outstanding service to the nation.
The award was given to him by the Adamawa Honours Society (AHS)
He said within the period under review, the agency had secured 3,324 convictions, seized 5.4 kg of different control drugs, narcotic substances and rehabilitated 3,326 drug abusers.
Marwa called on parents, community and religious leaders to intensify efforts in helping the agency to tame the tide of the menace, saying “drugs do not discriminate against tribe, religion or region”.
He said the agency had recently acquired drug and the testing kits, adding that intending couples should be tested for drug use before they get married.
“Drug test would determine the innocence or otherwise of couples and it will save marital, relationships from collapse due to abuse of drugs,” he said.
According to him, the agency is working assiduously to achieve reduction in supply and the demand for drugs, stressing that this would greatly add value to the fight against the trend.
Marwa commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for supporting the agency in the fight against illicit drugs, adding.
He said the award would spur him to do much more and commended the presenters for finding him worthy of the award.
Earlier, in his remarks, Mr Dauda Markus -Gundiri, an official of a group, who presented the award to Marwa , said the initiative was informed by his track record in public service.