Pubdate: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 Source: This Day (Nigeria) Copyright: 2007 This Day. Contact: http://www.thisdayonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870 Author: Mary Ekah AT KOFA KWAYA, NDLEA INTENSIFIES FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS Thursday August 2, 2007 would have gone like any other day in the ancient city of Katsina but the normal serenity was broken for a noble cause. The road leading to Jibia, an international border town between Nigeria and Niger Republic was unusually busy. As early as six o'clock in the morning, trucks carrying various sacks were seen plying the road as if it was a neighboring village market day. One would have thought that the goods belong to traders going to the market in anticipation of jumbo sales, but that thinking was however far from reality. The heavy presence of armed security personnel accompanying the goods may have also betrayed the fact that the goods are the normal market commodities. In fact, it was the evacuation of various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from the strong room of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) situated in a popular area called Kofa Kwaya (gate of drugs) in Katsina. What a coincidence that the agency's office is situated in the gate of drugs. Fortunately, the agency has practically demonstrated this unique location by closing the gate against the deadly wares of drug dealers. For more that six hours the officers were busy conveying the seized drugs to where they will be destroyed. At about 2:30 pm, the podium where the drugs were heaped to the high heavens was set, and one after the other the venue of the historic event of public destruction of exhibits by the NDLEA was filled with very prominent dignitaries. The presence of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema pepped -up the ceremony. Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade beat the imagination of his audience when he announced the destruction of 4,608.46 kilogrammes of various hard drugs. Out of this number, Indian hemp had the largest quantity with 4,280.83 kilogrammes. Psychotropic substances are 327.63 kilogrammes while cocaine is 34 pinches. The NDLEA boss who described the good people of Katsina as highly disciplined and reputable business men and women, involved in farming and trading in legitimate commodities even in the ancient time of trans-Sahara trade observed that "it is amazing that the command had made this gargantuan seizures of Indian hemp when it is obviously not a producing state". According to Giade, it is in strong defence of these cherished historical values for which the state is known that the agency has stepped up its narcotic control measures. He emphasised that the future of youths will not be allowed to be manipulated by the sinister activities of drug barons who are enemies of the state and must be resisted. Shema was shocked that such a large quantity of drugs could be seized in the state. The governor therefore pledged full support for the NDLEA in making the state free from illicit drug trafficking and abuse. It will be recalled that the Katsina State government is one of the states in the vanguard of anti-narcotics campaign. The state had earlier released money to the Katsina Command of the agency to refurbish broken down vehicles. Surely, the agency needs the support of corporate organisations and individuals to completely succeed in the war against drugs. The reassurance of more support for the agency both financially and morally is worthy of emulation by others. The agency has intensified its anti-drug campaign in the country with an increase in the number of seizures, convictions and the prompt destruction of forfeited drugs. The Katsina occasion of public destruction of drugs by the NDLEA is one of the efforts being made by the agency to rid the country of hard drugs. The event was well attended by very prominent personalities such as the former Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kumassi, the State Commissioner of Police Dan'Azumi Doma, royal fathers and other dignitaries. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart