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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Ugoni Youth Development Union in Ebonyi State has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dismantling an alleged industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory in Ugoni Okposi Okwu community.
The community, however, called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the establishment and operation of the facility, urging the agency to ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Patron of the Ugoni Youth Development Union and former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Chinonso Obasi, stated this in a statement issued to journalists on Wednesday.
Obasi said the reported discovery and dismantling of the laboratory had attracted public attention, stressing that the community neither supported nor harboured illicit drug production or any other criminal enterprise.
He said: “Ugoni Community does not stand with criminals. Ugoni stands with peace, lawfulness, responsible enterprise, youth development and the rule of law.”
He described Ugoni as a peaceful, hardworking and patriotic community whose people valued dignity, enterprise, development and the wellbeing of young people.
According to him, the community strongly condemned any individual whose activities might have exposed it to the dangers and reputational damage associated with illicit drug production.
Obasi particularly commended the professionalism and courage of Deputy Commander Kabiru Zakari of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit, who reportedly led the operation.
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He also expressed appreciation that the operation was conducted without any reported loss of life or casualty within the community.
The youth leader urged the NDLEA and other security agencies to deepen their investigations, identify all persons connected with the alleged operation and ensure that those found responsible faced the full weight of the law.
He noted that methamphetamine was a dangerous and addictive illicit substance capable of causing devastating consequences for individuals, families and communities.
Obasi warned that illicit drug laboratories, if allowed to operate undetected, could expand their networks and expose young people to serious social, economic and public-health consequences.
He also commended the NDLEA leadership under its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), for the agency’s efforts to combat drug production, trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
While supporting the law-enforcement action, Obasi appealed to the authorities to ensure that innocent members of the community were not collectively stigmatised over the alleged activities of individuals.
“The criminal activities of individuals must not become the identity of an entire community,” he said.
He assured the NDLEA and other lawful authorities of the community’s cooperation in efforts to keep Ugoni safe, particularly for children and young people.
Obasi, who is also the pioneer National President of the Nigerian Youth Union, said his long-standing advocacy for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria informed his decision to publicly condemn activities capable of undermining the future of young Nigerians.
