NDLEA Raises Alarm Over Rising Drug Addiction In Jigawa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Jigawa State has expressed concern over the rising rate of hard drugs consumption, especially among students of tertiary institutions, in the state.

The state’s Commander of NDLEA, Hajiya Maryam Gambo Sani, while speaking with Daily Trust, decried the increasing rate of drug consumption, which she said had heightened cases of delinquency in the state, and that it was only aggressive and mass enlightenment that would stem the tide.

She noted that between February and May, a total of 21.63 kilogrammes of banned substances were seized by the agency in the state, and 108 suspects nabbed: 103 males and five females.

She said, “The rate of consumption of drugs among youths in the state, to the best of my knowledge, is not decreasing at all, because with the rate at which we make arrests of youths, especially students, is on the increase. Anytime my officers go out for arrest they come back with a lot of users. Before you can get a dealer or a baron, you will get hundreds of users, so we can say the rate of consumption of drugs is on the increase.”

She added that while both secondary school and tertiary institution students were involved in the intake of illicit drugs, consumption was more rampant among students of tertiary institutions.

She further said, “Anytime we go out for raids, we arrest students. So I intend to carry out this campaign to the doorstep of the university. I hope to meet with the management of the university to discuss the issue of students involving in drug abuse.