Between January and July, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Gombe State Command, arrested a total of 214 suspects for drug-related offenses.
During the period under review, NDLEA agents also seized 93.95kg of cannabis sativa, 257.5kg of psychotropic substances, and methamphetamine from the suspects.
Read also: NAFDAC Examines Regulations Regarding Fat-Containing Foods And Pre-Packaged Labeling
Mr. Bello Mumini, the agency’s State Deputy Commander on Narcotics, made the disclosure Monday at a program organized by the Association of Professional Counsellors, APROCON, in Nigeria. He presented a paper titled, “Drug Abuse Situation in Gombe State.”
He explained that “the 214 suspects included 200 males and 14 females.”
He added that 30 of the 214 arrests resulted in convictions, while 137 were charged with crimes.
The NDLEA official bemoaned the fact that drug and substance abuse in the state affected people of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds, lamenting that so many women had been discovered abusing drugs.
According to him, it was disheartening that despite the high rate of substance abuse in the state, the NDLEA rehabilitation center was underutilized.
According to him, the facility has a 24-bed capacity, but only seven clients are undertaking rehabilitation at any given time.
He pleaded with the state government and other stakeholders to support the center by sponsoring clients’ rehabilitation.
Dr. Habiba Isah, the chairperson of APROCON, lamented that substance abuse had become a problem that all stakeholders should be concerned about due to its negative effects on youth.
