Pubdate: Tue, 12 Jul 2005
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2005 Vanguard.
Contact:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2890
Author: Abdulsalam Muhammad, Dutse

NDLEA Convicts 38 Persons in Jigawa Within 11 Months

Thirty-eight people were convicted for drug-related offences between 
June 2004 and May 2005 in Jigawa by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), 
Alhaji Mukhtar Garba told Vanguard that the convicted drug peddlers 
were among the One hundred and thirty arrested within the period 
through series of raids.

Alhaji Mukhtar Garba stated that the Agency recovered various illicit 
drugs weighing 1,172.33 kilograms, adding that under the NDLEA Drugs 
Demand Reduction Activities counseled 211 drug users in the state.

Alhaji Garba said that the agency also carried out series of public 
enlightenment campaign in both English and Hausa on the danger of 
drug abuse and trafficking on the life of human being and the society.

In Mukhtar Garba's words: "In a bid to enlighten the public on the 
danger of drug abuse, we carried out series of public campaign in 
both English and Hausa Languages tagged "Drug and Society" and "Gyara 
Kayanka" a lecture that afforded us the opportunity to expose the 
devastating effect of drug abuse on the life of a human being and 
society for maximum effects."

Alhaji Mukhtar Garba disclosed that the Jigawa Command of NDLEA is 
actively involved in the West African Joint (WAJO) operation, 
pointing out that the overall mission is to create necessary 
institutional mechanism for co-operation, exchange of intelligence 
and joint operation by West African Security Organizations.

According to the State NDLEA Commander, in line with the statutory 
requirement of the Agency, the Command had in recent past attended 
several sensitization workshops and seminars organized by other 
sister organizations within and around the state to keep them abreast 
of the emerging challenges of drug trafficking, stressing that the 
efforts have been very beneficial to the command.

Alhaji Mukhtar Garba while reiterating the determination of the 
Agency to rid Jigawa off drug menace, also appealed to citizens to 
assist the Command with information that will lead to the arrest of 
drug dealers in the state.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth