NDLEA ARRESTS 174 SUSPECTS

No fewer than 174 suspects have been arrested by the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) including the village head of Dikwala
in Zuru Local Government area of Kebbi State , Mallam Musa Gade for
cultivating 13 hectares of Indian hemp farms.

The State NDLEA Comman-der Barrister Ogilegwu Ona who disclosed this
weekend, at a rally on prevention of illicit drug crop cultivation,
drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Birnin Kebbi, said apart from
the arrested village head, Indian hemp plantations were destroyed,
while 359.3kg of illicit drugs were seized in the state.

According to the NDLEA Commander, 38 of the suspects have already
been convicted and serving various jail terms.

He revealed that the arrest of the village head and the discovery of
his Indian hemp plantations was the first big catch, in both
North-west and North-east of the country.

Said the NDLEA boss," This discovery is the first in both the
North-east and North-west. From available intelligence, some
unscrupulous persons are taking advantage of the Fadama belts and the
fertility of the state to engage in the production of Indian-hemp.
Considering the lucrative nature of this weed, if unchecked the
cardinal programme of food security in the state in particular and
the nation in general could be derailed."

Barrister Ona, called on the state government to as a matter of
urgency sensitize the grass root against illicit drug cultivation and
institute community policing through relevant Acts to empower
communities to bring to book drug culprits.

He also appealed to people to endeavour to volunteer information that
will lead to the arrest of drug culprits in the society.

The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Illayasu Bashar, represented by Galadima
Gwandu, Alhaji Ibrahim Kekebi, appealed to indigenes of the state to
stop using Fadama land for Indian-hemp cultivation in order not to
cause food crises in the state.

Alhaji Bashar who commended the NDLEA for the arrest of a large
number of drug suspects within a short period, appealed to people to
continue to cooperate with the agency so as to get rid of the menace
of drug in the society . Apart from the rally, a drama on drug
prevention and trafficking was also staged by a group of Corps
members at the ceremony.