By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agents (NDLEA), Saturday, said it has arrested not less than 136 illicit drug abuse suspects in Anambra State within the past six months.
The State Commander, NDLEA, Mr Daniel Ogbonna Onyishi, disclosed this in Awka, while commemorating the 2023 World Drug Day, an event that also marked official flag off of Master of Science Degree in Addiction Intervention Programme, and inauguration of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) club in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
According to Onyishi, the command has equally recorded conviction of 79 illicit drugs offenders, impounded about 883.34 kilograms of illicit drugs, as well as intensified action towards rehabilitation of drugs addicts and mass enlightenment in Anambra State.
"Drugs addicts are doubly victimised. First by the adverse effects of drugs on them individually. Secondary by stigmatisation, categorisation and profiling they and their families are facing in society. In Anambra State, we have adopted people oriented approach to reintegrate them back to society. We have rehabilitated, intensified public awareness campaign for prevention across communities, schools, churches, others," he added.
Speaking on the theme for the 2023 World Drug Day, which is 'people first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention,' the representatives of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), Dr Akanidomo Ibanga, urged Nigerians to make drug rehabilitation centers accessible to all, including introduction of drug screening at primary healthcare centres, secondary and tertiary health institutions.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone, represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Professor Angela Ufelle, hinted that the citadel of learning was not relenting in the campaign against illicit drug peddling and consumption, including the newly introduced MSc in Drug Addiction Intervention aimed at building capacity and producing manpower for the campaign and overall societal growth.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngọzi Chuma-Udeh, described drugs as a cankerworm eating deeply into the society, even as she urged the supports of both the youth and the old towards it total eradication.
Earlier, the Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), represented by Zonal Commander to Imo zone, Mr Sumaila Ethan, an Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN), urged supports of WADA club as it champions the campaign against illicit drugs and substance abuse, while encouraging the students to face their studies squarely.