The National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, seized a total of 4,858 kg of illicit drugs and secured the conviction of 123 people between January and December 2021.
Idris Bello, the NDLEA Zonal Commander, Zone B, which covers Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba states, revealed this in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency on Wednesday in Yola.
Bello said that in the year under review, the zonal command arrested 8,074 suspects in connection with various drug-related cases.
“In 2021, the Zonal Command, Zone B, seized 4,858 kg of various illicit drugs and achieved the conviction of 123 people while 139 cases are pending in court.
“In addition, we advise 139 people in the three states in the area.” Beautiful said.
The zonal commander said that two drug addicts voluntarily submitted to the command for counseling and rehabilitation.
He said that one of the two people counseled and rehabilitated was now studying at one of the tertiary institutions in Adamawa.
Bello, however, said the year under review did not end without incident, as two of the commando’s officers were sexually abused by thugs in the Hong local government area of Adamawa.
“One member of staff died while the other was seriously injured and had to be hospitalized,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of illicit cross-border activities, the NDLEA zonal commander said the agency was working closely with sister agencies, hunters and vigilante groups in the border communities of Adamawa and Taraba to tackle crime in the states.
Mr. Bello thanked the Adamawa state government for its promise to build a new world-class rehabilitation center in the state for the agency’s use.
He praised the agency’s chairman, Buba Marwa, for giving the go-ahead to build staff barracks in the area.