March 17, (THEWILL) –Ā The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun Command said it has arrested 73 persons in connection with drug offences and seized 1,781.854 kg of Indian hemp between January and February.
The state NDLEA Commandant,Ā Yomade OgunbiyiĀ made this knownĀ during a chat with newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo, the Osun stateĀ capital.
Ogunbiyi spoke against the backdrop of the agencyās war against illicit drugs and drug abuse.
He said that the command arrested 43 people, and seized 1,554.232 kg of hemp in January, while 30 people were arrested and 227.622 kg were seized in February.
āThe agency also achieved one conviction in January and five convictions were achieved in February.
āIn line with President Muhammadu Buhariās War Against Drugs Abuse (WADA) initiative, the NDLEA also carries out counseling and rehabilitation for drug addicts”, Ogunbiyi said.
He said the agency was now focusing on the WADA initiative to prevent people from using drugs as well as reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating drug addicts back into the society.
Ogunbiyi said that the NDLEA was planning to build six rehabilitation centres, one in each of the six geo-political zones, as part of its counseling and rehabilitation work.
āThough NDLEA is mostly known for making arrests, seizure of drugs and prosecution of suspects, the agencyās second mandate, key to our operation, is preventing people from using drugs.
āWe also carry out public enlightenment, counseling and providing after care services to addicts, to help reduce the negative effect of drug abuse in the country”, he said.