Rate of criminality, illegality in Nigeria stem from drug abuse – NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has attributed the nation’s high crime and illegality rate to the misuse of drugs among citizens.

Commander of the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, Olusegun Adeyeye, stated this on Friday while receiving seized Cannabis Sativa and Tramadol worth 117 million at the Ogun 1 Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Adeyeye explained that the narcotics if successfully smuggled into Nigeria, would cause greater harm and have detrimental effects on the country’s social, economic, and security systems.

He stressed that illicit drugs act as both influencers and enablers, adding that the rate of criminality witnessed in the country emanates from the abuse of drugs.

Adeyeye said, ” We all know what drugs do as far as the security of any nation is concerned, especially Nigeria.

” If these things had entered the country, there are a lot of negative implications that would emerge in the country, economically, socially and security-wise.

” The rate of criminality and illegality that we are witnessing today emanate from the use of drugs, it is an influencer and enabler.

” What an ordinary man can’t do, after the consumption of the drugs, you will be emboldened to do it and go to excess” he added.

He asserted that the abuse of drugs affects all citizens and harped on the need for all including religious and community leaders to be involved in the campaign against it.

“Everybody is involved. Drugs are in everybody’s home, we are vulnerable because we don’t know where our children are, their peers, and other family members.

“Some of our people are addicts. It is no longer a death sentence. If you have someone addicted, approach the nearest NDLEA commission for assistance. We have rehabilitation centres across the country. If you’re shy, there is a toll line to get sensitized and educated about the damage of drugs.

Stressing that the NDLEA and Nigeria Customs Service, NCS are twin brothers, Adeyeye commended the Ogun I Area Command for their doggedness and efforts in ridding the country of illicit drugs.