Pubdate: Wed, 06 Dec 2006
Source: Tide, The (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2006 The Tide
Contact:  http://www.thetidenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3973

ASPIRANTS ARE DRUG ADDICTS, PETITIONERS TELL NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in  Zamfara State 
has received petitions from members of  the public against seven top 
government officials  running for various elective offices.

The NDLEA Commandant in Zamfara, Mr Ibrahim Abdul, told  our 
correspondent yesterday in Gusau that the  officials, who had 
resigned their appointments to  contest, were being accused of being 
drug addicts.

He maintained that any of them found guilty of the  accusation, would 
not be allowed to scale through the  joint screening of candidates to 
be conducted by INEC,  SSS, police, NDLEA and other security agencies.

"Let me tell you that there are drug addicts even among  the 
government officials in the state because right  now, I am in 
possession of petitions against seven  government officials that are 
alleged drug addicts,"  he said.

Besides, Abdul alleged that some aspirants often bought  Indian hemp 
and hard drugs for their thugs, adding that  most of the atrocities 
being committed in the state  were perpetrated by those thugs.

"Our investigation has shown that some aspirants  seeking elective 
offices are in the habit of buying  Indian hemp for their thugs, so 
that they can do  whatever they are directed to do," he added.

He noted that the level of immorality and disregard for  the law 
among the youth in the state was due to the  consumption of illicit drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine