Northeast plagued by drug induced crimes- NDLEA

The commander of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Bello Idris, said during a Community Sensitization lecture against kidnapping organised by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Yola that Adamawa State has been home to so much drugs that even after seizing about 20 tonnes in different operations between 2015 and January 2020, the agency still battles against drug use and crime.

National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) described in a statement that the Northeast is under siege by criminal elements who are driven to crime by drugs. According to the agency, they said Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping, and Shilla Boys menace in Adamawa State in particular are powered by drug intake.

The Adamawa State Idris who was represented by Mr. Hassan Kabaju, the command’s Principal Staff Officer Operations said, “The entire Northeast is besieged by criminal gangs whose driving force is illicit drugs. Youths rely so much on drugs because it makes them do what they wouldn’t do unless they under the influence of drugs.”

He said Tramadol and other illicit drugs were found in the pockets of many insurgents killed in the region, adding that drugs play vital role in crimes and “There is need for collective response through community information gathering.”

Speaking in similar vein during the sensitisation event at the Adamawa State capital, Chairman of the state’s Police Community Relations Committee, Olu Adegoke, said members of the public need to collectively overcome security challenges, especially kidnapping.

Adegoke said, “We are in a trying period of kidnapping and other sorts of crimes; therefore, the security situation needs our collective solutions. Her also advised that Communities should cooperate and give out valid information to security agencies so that they can respond immediately.”

The Sensitization meeting which took place in the premises of Capital School, Jimeta, was supported by the Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP) whose Coordinator for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, Mr. Bash Olasupo made a case for funding of the Nigeria Police for enhanced performance.

He warned residents against displaying their wealth on the social media or through any other means to avoid being targets for kidnappers.