NDLEA Uncovers 4 Cannabis Farms, Arrests 372 Drug Dealers

The Bauchi State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in collaboration with 33 Artillery Nigerian Army, uncovered and harvested cannabis farms in the state’s LGAs of Alkaleri, Darazo, Ningi, and Giade.

On Monday, June 26, 2023, the State Commander, CN Ali Aminu, announced this to the press in his office at the Command Headquarters in Bauchi.

In addition, the command apprehended 372 drug offenders, successfully prosecuted and convicted 103 of them, and 31 other cases are still pending in court, while 73 drug users are being counselled and rehabilitated, the bulk of them are receiving brief preventions.

In terms of drug seizures, he stated that the Command seized a total of 1,289.153 kg of various classes of drugs from August 2022 until the present.

“It is also worthy of note to mention that the Command discovered and harvested a Cannabis farm at Digare, Alkaleri LGA of the State in conjunction with 33Artillery Nigerian Army. Also in Dafa Tuwo Village, Darazo LGA, Tsangayar Njeri, Ningi LGA and another Cannabis farm at Giade town, Giade LGA,” he stated.

Ali Aminu, who was holding his first press conference since taking office as the substantive State Commander of the NDLEA in Bauchi State Command on August 4th, 2022, stated that the briefing coincided with the commemoration of the 2023 International Day Against Drug/Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, which is held every year on June 26th.

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“Today, it is no longer news that the world is under siege by the menace of illicit substance abuse and trafficking. Nigeria is no exception. This year’s theme ”People First; Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen, Prevention” is in furtherance of the whole-of-society approach to taming the drug scourge.”

He then asked Nigerians to avoid stigmatizing drug users and discourage them from getting treatment, a trend that has major socioeconomic ramifications for individuals and their families.

“Stigmatization and discrimination make recovery and reintegration difficult for drug-dependent users who submit themselves to treatment. And the prevalence of such an attitude is counterproductive to the effort, time and resources invested by governments, institutions, and stakeholders working to contain the drug problem,” he said.

He added that “The theme is especially pertinent to the Nigerian situation at the moment. I advise the society to drop the stigmatization that discourages drug users from seeking treatment, a development that has serious socio-economic percussions for individuals and their families.”

According to him, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is the lead Agency in the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA). However, the Agency cannot win this War alone. It is to all and sundry, individuals, State Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Schools, Religious bodies and sister Security Agencies to enable us to raise awareness and share information on the cancerous menace of the spectre of illicit substance abuse and trafficking to our persons, immediate environment and nation. As it is usually said, if you are not infected, you are affected.”

Ali Aminu then praised the NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), for repositioning the Agency and instilling a fresh passion in its staff to fight the scourge of illicit drug addiction and trafficking.

He also took the opportunity to thank Bauchi State Governor Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for his great interest and enormous logistical support provided to the State Command in the fight against illicit drug addiction and trafficking.

“Indeed, the war is on and these purveyors of death and destruction are warned to steer clear of Bauchi State or be ready to face the wrath of the law,” The Commander declared.