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Against the backdrop of societal neglect, stigmatisation, and economic hardship, some persons with disabilities have resorted to crime, including drug trafficking for survival. BABATUNDE TITILOLA reports
In 2004, Abass Adesina faced a new reality that would shape the rest of his life. Born with normal vision, he suffered permanent blindness a few years later, forcing him to readjust to his new life.
His education, social life, and overall existence were altered. His parents enrolled him in a special school for the blind, where he learnt to read and write in Braille and adaptive technology. But life was never the same.
Mental torture
“Simple tasks like grocery shopping or using public transport have become scary experiences. It is very difficult navigating inaccessible physical spaces and relying on others for transport every time,” Adesina said.
He added that societal attitudes toward his condition often led to feelings of isolation and marginalisation, prompting him to visit therapy sessions to cope with the daily realities of being visually impaired.
“What people think of me significantly impacts my self-esteem and job opportunities. People often underestimate my abilities or make assumptions about my disability, leading to limited career progress and social interactions,” he lamented, recounting how he was screened out of several job interviews despite being qualified.
The 36-year-old said reading the Quran, listening to inspiring podcasts, and visiting support groups helped him resist thoughts of engaging in illegal ways to earn a living.
He said, “I face discrimination during job interviews, where assumptions about my abilities are made based on my blindness. Public transport has also been a challenge, with drivers refusing to accommodate me or lacking knowledge about accessibility features.
“Some will be pushed into crime because of the lack of opportunities, societal stigma, poverty, and social isolation. When basic needs are unmet and societal barriers persist, some PWDs may turn to illegal activities as a means of survival or coping mechanism. There are not enough opportunities for PWDs to lead fulfilling lives.”
Adesina is one of many visually impaired persons in Nigeria who have been pushed to the brink.
The World Health Organisation’s 2023 report on visual impairment indicated that at least 2.2 billion people worldwide experience some form of near or distance vision impairment.
In its 2020 report, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness stated that Nigeria had an estimated 24 million citizens experiencing vision loss, out of which 1.3 million were classified as blind.
Like Adesina, 30-year-old Olamide James went through a similar experience.
In August 2008, he was rushed to a hospital due to complications from chronic malaria. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, it was announced that his vision could not be restored.
“I decided to move on with my life,” James said, narrating how he withdrew from the Lagos State Polytechnic and enrolled at the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State, where he studied English.
Despite being a teacher at a secondary school, life has not been what he thought it would be.
“My biggest daily challenge is the high cost of essential commodities, including transport, because as a visually impaired person, I have to pay twice the price that an individual without visual impairment would pay.
“I have been let down by society because of unequal treatment and discrimination. In terms of job opportunities, I recently applied for a position for which I was suitably qualified, but was systematically disqualified,” he said.
The 30-year-old said the fear of abject poverty and lack of employment opportunities are major reasons PWDs go into crime.
PWDs in drug trafficking
In a society where marginalised groups often struggle for recognition and support, findings have shown that persons with disabilities in Nigeria endure societal neglect while searching for means of livelihood.
However, recent reports indicate a troubling trend as PWDs are being arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for drug-related offences.
On Tuesday, July 16, NDLEA operatives arrested 48-year-old Amadu Garba, a man with one leg, at his residence in Yawuri town, Kebbi State.
Authorities discovered six bags of cannabis weighing a total of 67 kilograms during the operation.
A male suspect, who is deaf and mute, was also arrested in the Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State, on February 1, 2024, for selling illegal substances.
At the time of his arrest, authorities recovered 150 grams of cannabis from him.
On September 1, 2017, the Cross River Command of the NDLEA apprehended six suspects, including a blind man and a cripple, during various operations across the state.
The command reported that the two individuals, Christian Joseph and Edet Bassey, were caught infusing cannabis sativa into meat pies, egg rolls, doughnuts, and other snacks.
On May 22, 2013, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced 34-year-old Wale Arowolo to six months imprisonment for dealing in Cannabis Sativa.
The physically challenged man pleaded guilty during trial after he was arrested with 500 grams of the illegal substance under a bridge in the Onikan area of the state.
Anti-drug trafficking in Nigeria
The NDLEA is Nigeria’s primary agency responsible for combating drug trafficking and abuse. Established in 1989, its role includes enforcing drug-related laws, preventing drug abuse, and rehabilitating drug users.
It aims to eliminate the production, trafficking, and abuse of illicit drugs while fostering a drug-free society.
NDLEA has 14 directorates, 14 zonal commands, 111 state area commands, and 10 special commands for airports and seaports. The agency is present in all the nation’s airports, seaports, border posts, and strategic locations on road networks in Nigeria.
On Monday, April 15, 2024, its Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), disclosed that the agency apprehended 50,901 drug offenders, including 46 barons.
Additionally, the NDLEA has successfully prosecuted and convicted 9,034 individuals, along with seizing over 7,561 tonnes of illicit substances within the past 38 months.
Marwa said, “Our seizure of 7,560,748.5 kilograms (7,561 tonnes) not only disrupts the flow of illegal drugs but also serves as a significant blow to the criminal networks responsible for their distribution.
“We have taken decisive action against illicit drug crop cultivation with our search-and-destroy campaign against cannabis plantations, which has led to the destruction of 1,057.33348 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.”
Discrimination in crime
The marginalisation PWDs face, many have averred, tempt them to take part in illicit activities, especially in an environment where jobs are scarce and survival is a daily struggle.
Experts say their stories provide not only insight into their personal experiences but also shed light on the broader implications of societal indifference.
One such individuals is Daniel Amaechi, a lawyer, who shed light on the impact of neglect and the search for dignity in a society that often overlooks his “kind.”
Amaechi, a native of Enugu State, grew up with a disability that prevented proper movement.
“I was not born with a silver spoon. I had an ample dose of poverty. However, I have principled and godly parents who steered me away from criminality.
“Then I had to make my personal decision to go the godly path and work extra hard. My disability made me realise that my options for survival in Nigeria are very limited,” he told this reporter.
The lawyer stated that having a disability does not justify committing crimes, emphasising that every person with a disability must take responsibility and resist the temptation to engage in illegal activities.
He added, “While I believe the government should do more to support PWDs, it is not an excuse for any PWD to turn to crime. Moreover, there is no evidence that crime rates are higher among PWDs. It’s just that when a PWD commits a crime, it tends to make the news more than when a non-PWD does. This, too, is a form of discrimination.”
Like PWDs, like the elderly
As Nigeria confronts the growing issues of drug trafficking and abuse, findings indicate that elderly Nigerians are increasingly involved in the illegal trade as well.
This troubling trend challenges societal stereotypes about age and criminal behaviour, revealing the pervasive nature of drug dependence and trafficking across various demographics.
On 18 June 2024, NDLEA operatives, intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck equipped with amber lights and a forged registration number similar to that of a security agency.
The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, totalling 340.8 kilograms, which 76-year-old Francis Omofa after reportedly procured in Uzeba, Edo State. During questioning, he admitted to being involved in the illicit drug trade for the past 10 years.
A 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, was arrested in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on 29 May with 57.2kg of cannabis. On 10 May, a 75-year-old grandfather, Jibril Audu, was arrested during a raid on Oke-Asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where authorities confiscated 7.5kg of cannabis.
On 9 May, a 70-year-old grandmother, Tikwase Nytor, was apprehended with 15.6kg of cannabis during a raid on Achusa and International Market Road in Makurdi, Benue State.
On 28 January 2024, operatives tracked and intercepted three vehicles carrying large bags of psychoactive substances in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos. While two drivers fled the scene, the third driver, 66-year-old Nasiru Ojomu, was apprehended. Ojomu is linked to the wanted drug lord, Suleiman Jimoh. Authorities recovered 14,524.8kg of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa.
Additionally, on 21 December 2023, 70-year-old Selifat Cole and her son, Babajide, were found in possession of 117.9kg of cannabis sativa during a raid on a residence in the Mushin area of Lagos.
On 15 December 2023, a 75-year-old grandmother, Sekinat Soremekun, was arrested in Oshodi, Lagos, for possessing cannabis and codeine syrup.
She confessed that her son, Segun, who was at large, supplied her with the drugs for resale.
In a striking trend, three grandfathers in their 60s were captured between February 8 and 23, 2023.
Onyebi Chimaobi, a frequent traveller to Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Uganda, was also arrested on 18 February at Victory Estate in the Ojo area of Lagos.
He had been on the agency’s watch list in connection with a seizure of 19.70kg of cocaine, which was abandoned on an Ethiopian airline flight that arrived at the Lagos Airport on February 9.
62-year-old Butven Siman was apprehended with 5.5 kilogrammes of skunk on February 17, 2023, at Timbol village in Plateau State, while 65-year-old Musa Shuaib was arrested on February 23 in Adewole, Ilorin, Kwara State, with one kilogramme of cannabis.
On September 1, 2017, another elderly man, 70-year-old Joseph, was taken into custody in Ikot Ansa, Calabar Municipal LGA, for possessing 1.83kg of suspected cannabis.
Drug traffickers: Death penalty
The criminal involvement of PWDs highlights the complexities that arise when marginalised communities become entangled in the illegal drug trade.
While Nigerian laws prohibiting drug offences are stringent and universally applied, the realities faced by PWDs often intertwine with stories of hardship and marginalisation, putting them at risk of facing the harsh consequences of the country’s justice system.
On May 9, 2024, the Nigerian Senate approved the death penalty for those involved in dealing and importing hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
The proposed capital punishment extends to the manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of these substances by any means.
The resolution was reached during discussions on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Senate passed the bill for a third reading after a report on the bill was jointly produced by the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters/Drugs and Narcotics.
If passed into law, the bill would repeal Section 11 of the current NDLEA Act, which states that the maximum penalty for such offences is life imprisonment.
Section 12 of the current Act states that any person who occupies or manages premises used for storing, concealing, processing, or dealing in drugs such as cocaine, LSD, heroin, or any similar drug shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 25 years upon conviction.
According to Section 13, if the storing, moving, or concealing of the drugs is done with illegal arms, the person, after conviction, could face life imprisonment.
Section 14 states that anyone who incites, promises, or induces another person to commit offences outlined in the Act, or conspires with, aids, abets, counsels, attempts, or is an accessory to any act or offence covered by the Act, can be found guilty and sentenced to a term of imprisonment between 15 and 25 years.
Experts’ views
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Michael Jacob, confirmed that the psychological impacts of job discrimination and employability challenges that PWDs face could drive some of them to engage in criminal activities, such as drug-related offences, as a means of coping or sustaining their livelihood.
He explained that prolonged unemployment or underemployment can leave PWDs in precarious financial situations, struggling to afford necessities like housing, food, and healthcare.
Jacob said, “The high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression that PWDs experience due to job discrimination can lead them to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Over time, this can spiral into substance abuse and addiction, which may then compel them to engage in drug-related crimes to support their habit.”
“When PWDs feel isolated, excluded from mainstream society, and lacking a sense of purpose, they may seek out alternative communities or social circles, including those involved in criminal activities. The promise of belonging and acceptance, even in an underground setting, can be alluring for those who’ve been marginalized.”
“Some PWDs may feel that they have limited legitimate options for achieving financial stability, status, or a sense of relevance. In the absence of viable alternatives, they may rationalize engaging in illegal activities as their best or only choice, despite the risks.”
Jacob noted that while the majority of PWDs do not engage in criminal activities, those who do are often driven by complex systemic issues, including the failure to provide adequate support and equal opportunities.
On solutions to drug-related crimes committed by PWDs, the psychotherapist suggested that relevant commissions should work closely with local governments and urban planners to ensure that public spaces are fully accessible and inclusive for all citizens, regardless of their impairment.
A psychologist, James Okoro, while commenting on the issue, noted that PWDs are often overwhelmed by their experiences with people and their communities.
He said, “Everyone faces mental health challenges due to their experiences. But for PWDs who face stereotypes in almost every area of their lives, the impact can be worse. Imagine physically challenged persons who struggled to get educated but no employer wants to hire them because of their condition.
“If they don’t commit suicide, they may eventually turn to crime unless they have a strong support system in family and friends. Unfortunately, some PWDs may abandon their homes when they feel ashamed of being too much of a burden for their caregivers.”
The mental health expert emphasised that everyone has roles to play in supporting PWDs to ensure they do not feel abandoned or left to suffer.
“Focus on prevention, not punishment”
According to legal experts and inclusion advocates, this unfortunate reality raises critical questions about social responsibility and the role of family, society, and government in fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive, regardless of their impairment.
Bukola Ayinde, an advocate for the needs of PWDs in Nigeria, said drug-related offences are one of the consequences of neglecting PWDs.
Ayinde said, “If PWDs are not properly integrated into the system, they become a burden on society. Drug-related offences are one of the fallouts of this burden. It all starts with acceptance in the family. People abandon their children because of their disabilities. There is also stigmatization, and society is not integrating them, even into the education system.
“The government’s role should also be examined. What is the level of inclusion in government policies? How can PWDs be given economic power? Many have become beggars because their families, society, and government have abandoned them.
“I have a child with a disability. She is graduating from primary school this week and will proceed to secondary school. We have achieved this success because we have accepted her as she is and worked closely with her school to find a way for her to learn. She aced her entrance exams. So, families, society, and the government all have roles to play.”
Government reacts
The Head of Information and Public Relations at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mbanefo John-Michaels, said the commission had been working hard to improve the welfare of PWDs, with the aim of keeping them out of illegal activities, including drug trafficking.
He said, “Criminals, of course, must face the laws of the land when caught, regardless of their status, but the commission will not rest on its laurels until there’s an all-inclusive society in Nigeria and persons with disabilities are completely taken off the streets.
“This depends on the specifics of each case. Regarding the fact that most PWDs who engage in drug abuse claim it is due to depression caused by emotional distress, the commission would prefer they be referred to rehabilitation and restorative centres so they can be properly reintegrated into society.
“However, when we preach inclusion, it involves all aspects of accepting and integrating persons with disabilities into society, and as such, the commission will most likely adhere to the rules of law and equal justice, even when it concerns PWDs.”
John-Michaels noted that the issue of the five per cent provision for the employment of PWDs in all federal government offices had been resolved, and the NDLEA, in accordance with Section 29 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, recruited some persons with disabilities into its agency.
Also responding, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the number of arrests of PWDs for drug-related crimes was low compared to other social groups, adding that some persons with disabilities engaged in criminal activities believing their physical challenges would shield them from suspicion or consequences.
He said, “Yes, we have had some of these people arrested occasionally, and that is because some of them believe that due to their physical challenges, nobody will think or consider them capable of doing such things.
“So, for them, their challenge is seen as an easy way of escaping from law enforcement agents, but unfortunately, they got it wrong. Everybody is equal before the law. Sometimes, we may have to consider people with disabilities, but that is not an excuse to go into crime.
“The common excuse given by persons with disabilities for engaging in criminal activities like drug trafficking is their desperation to escape poverty and hunger, but these are not acceptable before the law. But that is the common denominator.
“Most of them say they did it because they needed to survive, but there are other things they can do. If they can get into criminal activities to survive, it means they can also survive on legal activities like businesses that can still offer them a comfortable living.”
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