ARMED FORCES, NDLEA TO COOPERATE IN CURBING CRIME WAVE IN ADAMAWA

The Armed Forces and other security outfits in Adamawa State have
resolved to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,
NDLEA towards combating the rising wave of crime and drug abuse in the
society.

The Agencies resolved at an interactive session in Yola called by the
State Commander of the NDLEA, Mallam Baba Husseini.

The Brigade Commander 23rd Armored Brigade, Yola Brigadier General J.B
Ahmadu assured of the total commitment of the Army in helping to
combat drug menace in the society and the barracks in particular.

General J.B Ahmadu suggested that seminars on drugs abuse should be
organized for officers and men of the Brigade as well as students
within the barracks and its environs.

The State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Abubakar Ringim decried
the rising wave of crime in the State, saying that criminal activities
any where in the world are associated with drugs.

They assured the NDLEA Commander of the willingness of the Police to
organize joint operations within and outside the State to deal
decisively with criminals and drug offenders.

Alhaji Hafiz Abubakar Ringim urged officials of the NDLEA in the State
to see the Police as partners in progress since their constitutional
responsibilities revolves around security and crime control. The State
Commander of the NDLEA, Mallam Baba Husseini had solicited for the
full cooperation of all the security outfits in the fight against drug
abuse and trafficking.

Malam Husseni emphasized that the agency alone is handicapped to cope
with the sophisticated mode of drug trafficking in the society now.In
another development, the 25 years old abandoned Drisal bridge at Uba
in Adamawa State has been constructed and commissioned by Governor
Boni Haruna at the weekend.

Commissioning the bridge constructed at a cost of N131 million, Boni
described the ceremony as memorable because of the number of lives
that perished in the Drisal river before the reconstruction.

He lamented the 25 long years hardship and agony suffered by the
people of Uba in Adamawa and their neighbours from Borno following the
neglects of the bridge by successive administrations.

The Governor enjoined the people to be patient as his government is
more determined to providing them with the basic infrastructures that
will better their lots.

"The government will not allow itself to be detracted by the
Abuja/Kaduna based self-styled critics who stay far away from the
state and write baseless and unfounded accusations," the Governor
fumed. "We will make you comfortable and acknowledge your
appreciations" Haruna told the people.

Earlier, the Chairman of Uba - Gaya Development Area, Alhaji Mohammed
Mayas recalled the lives lost during the rainy season as the sick,
especially women - in-labour could not gain access to hospitals.

"At times burial of the dead had to be delayed when the river over-
flows its bank", Mayas regretted.He stated that the people of Uba will
ever remain grateful to the Adamawa State government for the
completion of the bridge, noting that the problem of erosion and the
separation of Northern and southern Uba, which the people have
hitherto referred to as the "Berlin wall" has been solved.

The entire North - East sub-region has almost been cut - off from the
rest parts of the country following epileptic NITEL telephone services
in the area.

Territorial Manager of Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd,( NITEL )
incharge of Adamawa State, Engineer Albert Okolie when asked
attributed the problem to the breakdown of NITEL Repeater Station at
Garkida.He explained that the faulty Repeater station serves as the
link between Yola - Maiduguri route before connecting to the Bauchi
secondary center, then to the other parts of the country.

The Territorial Manager further explained that the Yola - Gombe route
being the only functional route servicing most of the States in the
sub-region is heavily congested thereby making linkage with the rest
parts of the country extremely difficult."To reach Bauchi secondary
center which links the entire North - East with the rest parts of the
country has become increasingly difficult moreso with frequent power
outage in most of our sub-stations along the route", he explained.

He however, gave an assurance that NITEL engineers will soon be
deployed to the repeater station at Garkida as formal complain has
been lodged at the NITEL Area Headquarters.Engineer Okolie gave an
assurance that things being equal, the faculty repeater station will
be put to use in the shortest possible time.Commenting on the levels
of indebtedness to NITEL, the Territorial Manager disclosed that about
(N130m) One Hundred and Thirty Million Naira is being owed the
organization by subscribers in Adamawa State.

He commanded the Adamawa State government for its prompt settlement of
NITEL bills, and enjoined subscribers, especially those with multiple
accounts to ensure settlement of their phone bills.Engineer Albert
Okolie announced that over 400 lines of indebtor subscribers may soon
be recovered in the State for non payment following a presidential
directive to that effect.