Kogi State has been described as a high risk State for illicit drugs business and consumption with it’s unique location as a transit zone between Northern and Southern of Nigeria.
The State Commander of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr. Alfred Adewumi made the observation at the launch of War Against Drugs Abuse (WADA), Lokoja on Thursday.
Adewumi at the event also decorated 18 newly promoted officers with their new ranks.
He disclosed that the state command has seized 56,223.824kg of cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp, through the efforts of its patrol operation, between 2020 and September 2021.
He noted that the figure of the seizure excludes cannabis sativa and other illicit drug mop ups through the agency inland operation.
According to Adewumi, “The combination of the unlawful but thriving drug business at the Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha, with the possible existence of clandestine laboratories for the production of methamphetamine in both Anambra and Delta states which are neighbouring states to Kogi, as well as, the proximity and easy access it provides to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, further make Kogi State high risk for illicit drug business.
“The waterway provides opportunity to traffic drugs from Cannabis Sativa plantations and psychotropic substances markets in Edo, Delta and Anambra states and ferried across River Niger into Idah in Kogi, and for upward distribution into the far northern states of Nigeria.
“The discovery of over twenty six hectares of Cannabis Sativa plantations in the eastern part of the state in the year 2020 and another twenty acres in the year 2021 in the same axis are indicative of domestic cultivation of drugs.
“It can be surmised that the vital positioning of Kogi State as well as the multi-racial composition of the state’s demography along with its proximity to the FCT and other peculiarities enumerated above make the state a strategic and veritable location for transit traffic, local production/cultivation and consumption of drugs.”
On the launching of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), Adewumi explained that it is a call for civil action for all Nigerians to take active part in combating drug abuse and its circulation in the country.
He recalled that on 26 June, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).
Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA in return gave the directive that it should be replicated in states and to consequently devolve to the local governments and eventually to the family as a unit.
