The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba has assured the Chairman\Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) of the full support and cooperation of the Nigerian Police Force in the fight to rid the country of illicit drugs.
The IGP’s pledge came even as the NDLEA boss disclosed that over 2 million kilogrammes of drugs worth over N80 billion had been seized in the last three months by the anti-drug agency.
Marwa also said over 3,000 suspects had been arrested for various law-related offences with 350 convictions won over the same period of time.
Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Alkali Baba disclosed that both the Nigerian Police Force and the Agency were integral part of policing the country against all forms of criminalities including drug abuse hence there was the need for synergy among them.
He said: “NDLEA is part and parcel of the agencies ensuring law and order and making sure criminality is curtailed and brought to its barest minimum. Gen Marwa has been in the business of crime prevention and control right from when he was in Borno and later Lagos. We know your efforts in sanitizing anywhere, where senseless things are involved.”
Alkali Baba who disclosed that he was at the NDLEA headquarters to pledge his unalloyed support and collaboration in the fight against drugs, said, “This is because behind every crime including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, there is always drugs attached.
“In the last three months of your being in office, we have seen deliverance and your impact have helped to bring down the magnitude of crime the nation would have experienced.
“We will do whatever that is possible with the Agency to control and contain criminality in this country especially the trafficking of cannabis and fake drugs. We want to assure you that we are ready to synergize with you in tackling the drug menace anytime, 24/7. We are ready to collaborate with NDLEA.”
In his remarks, Marwa said “the need for collaboration between the NDLEA and the NPF is very important because in the second phase, where we are now, we will be going after the drug barons. We will need the tracking and intelligence capacity support of the Nigerian Police force which it is well known.”
Marwa while describing the visit of the IGP as timely, said, “We need renewed collaboration in the fight because the use of drugs is now confirmed as a major precursor to criminality in Nigeria.
“Banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, cultism, armed robbery have been traced to drugs use because it makes these criminal elements fearless. But we are out for the traffickers and couriers, working on the mandate given by Mr President on elimination of the menace.
“In the last three months, we have seized over two million kilogrammes of drugs; over N80 billion worth of drugs transaction and financing has been foiled; over 3,000 suspects have been arrested and are facing prosecution.”
Gen Marwa also urged the IGP to ensure that drugs seized by police personnel who are also doing a great job, was transferred to the NDLEA.
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