From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested a Hundred and Seven persons and secured the convictions of Twelve over various charges relating drug abuse, trafficking and other related offences between January and June in Taraba State.
The State Commandant of the agency, Nanzing Sallah, revealed this in Jalingo at the grand finale celebration of the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
Sallah, who disclosed that the command has seized a total of 1,067.423kg of different illicit drugs including Cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances, said one female was among the arrested persons.
He further disclosed that while the convicts are serving various jail terms, the others are under prosecution at the Federal High Court, Jalingo.
The commandant said that fight against illicit drugs in the state was tasking and faces a lot of challenges especially unwillingness of communities and individuals to provide useful information to the operatives and sometimes, outrightly protecting suspects.
He regretted that operatives of the command have been attacked severally in the course of duty and lamented inadequate office facilities, operational logistics and other challenges affecting the effective operation of the command, and urged the State Government to step up collaboration with the agency to tackle the menace.
Earlier the first lady of the state, Mrs. Agyin Kefas who was decorated as the grand patron of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), assured the command of her commitment to join forces with the agency in order to tackle the menace of drug abuse in the state.
She promised to work with the Agency to get a functional rehabilitation center for drug users.