The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has arrested 18,940 suspects for different drug-related offenses in the past two years.
Brigadier General. Mohammed Buba-Marwa, the agency’s president, had this to say at an awards presentation in Yola on Tuesday.
The award was presented to him by the Adamawa Honors Society in recognition of his outstanding service to the nation.
It said the agency secured 3,324 convictions, seized 5.4 kilograms of different control drugs, narcotic substances and rehabilitated 3,326 drug addicts in the period under review.
The NDLEA chief urged parents, community and religious leaders to step up campaigns to tame the threat, saying “drugs do not discriminate against tribe, religion or region.”
The agency, he said, recently acquired drug and lie test kits, adding that prospective couples should be tested for drug use before marriage.
“Drug tests will determine the innocence or not of couples and save marital relationships from collapse due to drug abuse,” he said.
According to him, the agency is working hard to achieve a reduction in the supply and demand of drugs, noting that this would add significant value to the fight against the trend.
Marwa praised President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the agency in the fight against illicit drugs, adding: “I also commend the Adamawa House of Representatives for enacting laws against drug-related crimes.”
He said the award would spur him to do more, and praised the organizers for finding him worthy of the award.
Dauda Markus-Gundiri, an official with the group, said Marwa’s record informed the award in public service.
He described the awardee as the true “son of the earth”, who served the nation with commitment, dedication and sincerity of purpose, considering his performance in the numerous positions he held.
He said the group would continue to recognize deserving individuals and groups with such gestures, especially those who selflessly served humanity. (YAYA)
