96 ARRESTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES IN AKWA IBOM

Uyo

The State Commander of the Akwa Ibom Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( ND-LEA ), Mrs Florence Dan Archibong, has said that the command arrested 96 persons involved in various drug offences since its establishment in the State a year ago.

Mrs.  Archibong, who disclosed this at this year's United Nations International Day Celebration Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said of the number of the arrested suspects, nine were females while 87 were males .

The command, she said, also seized cannabis, weighing 120 kilogrammes, 12 grammes of cocaine and one gramme of heroine from the suspects.

Mrs Archibong stated that the NDLEA was set up by the Federal Government to check the activities of drug traffickers and abusers, who undermine government's de-velopmental efforts through corruption and acts of terrorism.

The state commander also said that the NDLEA has established drug-free clubs in post primary schools in the state and called on the people to join the agency to renew their commitment to "protect our citizens and institutions of government and society from drug abuse and trafficking".

Thirty drug-dependent persons, she said, were under intensive counselling, stressing that "the task is not only for the NDLEA, but also for parents, teachers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, NGOs, associations, market/traders' unions, as well as other government agencies".

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr.  Edet Atti, at the occasion, also called for the involvement of all stakeholders in the society in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.  He gave some of the commonly abused drugs to include cannabis, alcohol and heroine, calling on Nigerians to be their brother's keeper by reporting cases of drug abuse to the appropriate quarters.

The commissioner who was represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services in his ministry, Dr.  S.A.  Unah, expressed surprise at the way young presons were today involved in drug abuse.