NDLEA Arrests 214 Gombe Drug Suspects In 7 Months

The Gombe state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has announced that it arrested no fewer than 214 suspects for drug-related offences between January and July.

Also, 93.95Kg of cannabis sativa, 257.5Kg of psychotropic substance and methamphetamine were seized from the suspects within the period under review.

The agency’s state Deputy Commander on Narcotics, Mr Bello Mumini, disclosed this at a programme organised by the Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria on Monday

Presenting his paper, titled “Drug Abuse Situation in Gombe State,” Mumini said the 214 suspects included 200 males and 14 females.

He said out of the 214 arrests, 137 of them had been charged to court and that 30 convictions had been secured.

The NDLEA official decried the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the state, adding that the pattern and trend cut across gender, age and social status.

He said it was disturbing to know that many women had been found abusing drugs in the state.

He also said it was discouraging that the NDLEA rehabilitation centre in the state was not being utilised properly despite the high rate of drug abuse in the state.

He said, “The NDLEA rehabilitation centre is functional but not being utilised as it ought to.

“We have a 24-bed capacity but the highest we get is seven clients undergoing rehabilitation.

“This is why I am appealing to the state government and other partners to support the centre and sponsor clients towards their effective rehabilitation.”