May 22, (THEWILL) – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it cannot combat the war against hard drugs in the country without seeking assistance, synergy and collaboration from all and sundry, urging for the cooperation of everybody to rid the society of the menace orchestrated by the prevalent drug abuse, even though the NDLEA remains the vanguard of the war against drugs.
The state commander of NDLEA in Bayelsa state, Mr Matthew Ewah, in a chat with journalists in Yenagoa, said against the upsurge of drug (colours) related deaths of youths in the Federal University, Otuoke and its environs, he averred that the command is worried of the ugly trends and it has not rested on its oars, saying as parts of its avowed mandate, it is in collaboration with the Head of tertiary institutions to sensitise students on the danger inherent in illicit drugs by the students and its dangerous implications on their health and careers, adding that fight against illicit drugs, which is local, also needs the efforts and supports of traditional rulers, community Development chairmen and the media, and synergy with other security agencies.
On what Colorado looks like, he said it is a cocktail of cannabinoid oil. It is called Colorado because it originated from the United States of America, where it was first legalised and it is made from synthetic cannabinoid oil.
“Our synergy with sister agencies is superb, we can’t be everywhere, the drug war is a collective responsibility and not restricted to NDLEA alone, the drug war is local like politics.”
He said as an agency of government, it has not relented, having made a lot of suspected arrests and seizures, with some charged to court, saying that the command is also pained with victims that dot the streets, who are victims of illicit hard drug, like the case of a lady you alluded to at Federal Medical centre with psychiatric problems, but said the agency equally majorly battle with the dealers and suppliers of these drugs.
“Those you see on the streets, we arrest and counsel them as victims of illicit hard drugs and counsel them in our little rehabilitation centre for 90 days and release them.”
On the agency’s exploits and challenges, he posited that funding like any agency has been problematic, considering the logistics needed to work, but said since he resumed duty, the command has arrested 158 suspects for peddling illicit hard drugs as some will be charged to court upon conclusion of their investigations and called the NDLEA headquarters as matter of urgency to establish its marine unit to fight the drug war in Bayelsa waterways since the state has most communities that are situated in the riverine.
“Recently, during our regular patrol, my officers arrested a 400-level student of Niger Delta University, Amassoma, who parcelled drugs via waybill and has been charged to court.
“We have made requests to governments for extension of marine units of NDLEA like other States with marine communities like Lagos state, to cover Bayelsa state effectively.”
