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.