An appeal has been made to Kano State government to enact a law that would check the menace of drug abuse, polical thuggery among others militating against youth development in the state. The appeal was made by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on youth development, Alhaji Gambo Ado at the launching of the State Youth Development Action Plan held recently in the state. Alhaji Gambo identified drug addiction, proliferation of video viewing houses, political thuggery and begging as the most social vices militating against youth development. He called on the government to enact a law to check the menace among youths in the state. [continues 179 words]
The West African Joint Operation (WAJO) comprising 13 West African countries and drug attachees of Europe and America met recently in Banjul, Gambia to deliberate on illicit drug trafficking and other psychotropic substances in the region. Principal facilitator of the joint operation, Alhaji Bello Lafiaji who is also the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) presided over the meeting. He spoke to Crime Correspondent, Albert Akpor on activities of WAJO and other issues. Excerpts. What is WAJO and how has its activities helped in the war against illicit drug trafficking? [continues 836 words]
Lagos The release of the 2003 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report by the United States government appears to have been misunderstood by some Nigerians, who erroneously felt the country was not doing enough in the anti-narcotics fight. A perusal of the report reveals Nigeria's epic battle to curb the drug menace. Godwin Haruna tells the story Recently, the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2003 (INCSR) released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, a US agency, has been largely misrepresented by a section of the press in Nigeria. US President, Mr. George W. Bush despatched the INCSR to Congress listing the major illicit drug producing and drug-transit countries. In the same report, Bush provided his determination on which of these countries has "failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts" during the previous 12 months to adhere to international counter-narcotics agreements and to take the counter-narcotics measures specified in US law. [continues 1833 words]
Warri About 30 of the 79 suspects arrested in connection with Tuesday's early morning shoot-out in Warri were released yesterday, just as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was believed to have been involved in the events that lead to the bloody encounter. The release of the detainees came on the heels of hours of interrogation conducted by men of the Joint Military Task Force to ascertain the level of involvement of each suspect in the incident in which a soldier and several civilians lost their lives. [continues 156 words]
Lagos The 2003 Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has declared that there is a nexus linking drug abuse, crime and violence in most societies across the world. Godwin Haruna witnessed the presentation of the report in Lagos The drug menace threatening most societies today, has assumed global dimensions. No country in the world treats the issue in isolation of the other as new strategies are being devised to save the future. Since the youth of the world are the most vulnerable group in the abuse of drugs and prohibited substances, prevention efforts are being targeted towards them. [continues 1778 words]
Lagos 5,157 Suspects Held The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that 1.045 million drugs and other illict pharmaceutical products were seized across the country between January and December 2003, in order to ensure a drug-free nation. Deputy Director of the Agency who represented Chairman, Alhaji Bello Lafiaji yesterday at the public presentation of 2003 International Narcotics Control Board Report, also revealed that 5, 157 suspects were apprehended in the year under review. "I recall that at a similar occasion last year, I reaffirmed our commitment towards the achievement of more strides in the anti-narcotic crusade. I am happy to note that this pledge has not only been fulfilled but was appropriately acknowledged in the report being presented today. Thus, in 2003 we made a total seizure of 1044128.481kg, including 170.32983kg of cocaine 143.20585kg of heroin, 1,042,087.14kg of cannabis and 1727.805kg of psychotropic substances. During the same period we apprehended a total number of 5,157 drug suspects out of which we were able to successfully prosecute more than 90 percent", he emphasised. [continues 204 words]
Lagos The International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) has lauded the federal government efforts in combating the drug menace since the inception of democratic rule in 1999. Presenting the INCB year 2003 report at a press briefing held at the United Nations information centre, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday, the country representative of United Nations office on Drug and Crimes in Nigeria, Mr. Raul Salay stated that Nigeria has been playing a strategic role in the war against drug trafficking through the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). [continues 155 words]
The United States Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs yesterday released its annual report in which Nigeria is described as "a major drug-transit country" with criminal elements operating global trafficking/criminal networks around the world. According to the Department of State's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) prepared in accordance with a489 of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), "Nigeria is a major staging point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin smuggled to Europe and the United States and for South American cocaine trafficked to Europe." [continues 349 words]
The Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, Mr. Paul Salay, has said the body's ultimate desire this year was to bring consumption of illicit drugs among youths in the country to the barest minimum. Towards the realisation of that, the UNODC, he said, has entered into partnership with some corporate organisations on how best to re-integrate drug addicts back into the society. He said the UNODC and some corporate organisations were putting finishing touches to some projects which they intend to work on this year. [continues 412 words]
Ilorin The Kwara State Director of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mr. Soji Sodeke has identified joblessness as the cause of drug trafficking among youths in the country. Sodeke in his maidens media chat in Ilorin stated that unless government at all levels rise to the perennial problem of youth unemployment, drug offence among youths may be on the increase. He lamented the rising wave of drug offences among youths, describing it as awkward for graduates of four and five years without job. [continues 154 words]
BAUCHI -- The Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu yesterday commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its untiring fight against drug trafficking and other vices in the country. Mu'azu who gave the commendation at the state agency's command headquarters during the command exhibition and destruction ceremony in Bauchi, called for total support of government and the people of Nigeria towards the success of the agency's campaign against drug trafficking and other related offences. Represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmood, the governor observed that in the past, Nigerians travelling abroad were subjected to humiliating and dehumanising processes at entry points as if they were criminals because of drug trafficking. [continues 166 words]
In continuation of its drive against drug trafficking, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted about two tonnes of drugs from different parts of the country. The drugs were intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Ikorodu end of Lagos, Yobe and Anambra States. The drugs included concaine, heroin, indian hemp and psychotropic substances among others. The agency also indicated that reports coming from their various commands have revealed that unscrupulous drug traffickers are in for a tougher time this year because the structure necessary for counter narcotic onslaught is already on ground. [continues 508 words]
LAGOS -The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State command made its biggest seizure of Marijuana, otherwise known as Indian Hemp recently, with a total of about 2,135.5 kilogrammes, parading 12 suspects, from whom the seizure were made. Addressing reporters in Lagos, the Sector Comman-der, Mr. Abiodun Adesola said the seizure, the biggest so far since the command was created, was seized from suspects at different locations in Lagos State. Adesola said the most popular syndicates in the illicit business seems to come from a particular area in the South-south geographical zone, networking other areas in the south-west. [continues 117 words]
Lagos -- A 17-year-old secondary school leaver was one of the fifteen suspects paraded for drug peddling yesterday by the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, arm of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The school leaver, (names with-held) was arrested with 840 grammes of cocaine which he ingested and another 1.3kg of the same substance concealed in a bag January 22, 2004, while trying to board a British Airways flight to London. On interrogation, the suspect told NDLEA officials that the bag containing the 1.3kg of heroine was given to him to deliver to a recipient at Ostaley Park Hotel London by a friend he simply called Dapo. [continues 328 words]
Lagos Has it not been said already, which seems indisputable, that some are borne great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness bequeathed on them. But the personage at this locus-in-quoi is an embodiment of all the aforementioned variables. Firstly he was born great, he moved to achieve greatness because he was anointed to be, and early in life he believed that heaven helps those who help them selves despite having greatness entrusted on him. Suffice it therefore to state here that birth days or celebration of achievements like Thomas A. Edison wrote "everything comes to him who hustles while he waits" if not for the commemoration of attainments, feats and other concomitants of excellence becomes insipid and a robust waste of resources. [continues 642 words]
Abuja The Swedish Government has donated the sum of N63 million through the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency, (SIDA) to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in Nigeria, (UNDCP). According to a statement signed by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Fredrike Tamas-Hermelin, the donation is in support of the prevention and reduction of drug abuse in Nigeria. The UNCDP in collaboration with the Federal Government is working with Non-Governmental Organisations NGOs to reduce drug problems in Nigeria through increased awareness in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. [continues 118 words]
Lagos The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency impounded no fewer than 2.3m hard drugs and destroyed 359,202 hectares of cannabis farms in Ondo, Edo and Delta States, between the month of January and October 2003. Just as it arrested 2,317 drug suspects. and prosecuted 732 of them within the period. Revealing this information to THISDAY the Agency's Public Relation Officer (PRO) Mr. Jonah Achema, stated that his organisation has been effective in its war against drug peddling over the year as it set out to block both the sea, airport and land route used for the smuggling of hard drugs into the country. [continues 281 words]
WARRI -- FOUR Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and one policeman received gunshot injuries after a fierce battle with drug dealers last Wednesday when the NDLEA officials stormed their supply route in Abbi, Ndokwa local government. Commander of the NDLEA in Delta State, Aju Okopi-Amen who confirmed the shoot-out to Vanguard yesterday noted that over 200kg of cannabis was seized after the incident while three person were arrested. According to the NDLEA commander, his men acting on information, had gone to Abbi to smash the drug cartel there, but unknown to them, the drug dealers were ready with arms to thwart it. "On sighting my men, they opened fire, we then responded and subdued them with the help of the police who were also with us. [continues 259 words]
Encounter He wanted to be a medical doctor, he missed the chance when he was offered veterinary medicine at the University of Maiduguri. His interest refused to die so, he chose something close to it: B.Sc. biology. With his father's military pedigree, he too had hoped to be a soldier after his National Youth Service in Oyo State with the 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan. That too, could not materialise because at the point of entry, he got to know there would be a ceiling as to where he could rise to. At that point, his interest was annulled because he wanted a profession he could realise his potentials to the fullest. Once again, he chose something close to it in the para-military force. [continues 1921 words]
Katsina - The Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Kabir Usman has advocated stringent punishment for anybody found to be involved in drug related offences in the country. The Emir made this plea yesterday while receiving the officers of NDLEA who embarked on "drug walk" to his palace in Katsina. He said leaders at various levels of governance in the state have resolved to support the NDLEA in stamping out drug consumption among youth in the state, saying that war against hard drug is a war in the right direction. [continues 131 words]
Inside Nigeria
