The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has lost at least 58 officers in the past two years since its current Chairman, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) assumed office.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has lost at least 58 officers in the past two years since its current Chairman, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) assumed office.
This is as some staff of the anti-narcotic agency has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Abdallah and issue compulsory retirement to the seven directors in the agency, accusing the Chairman of conniving with drug barons at the expense of Nigeria.
A document made available to SaharaReporters and signed by Mr. Musa Ahmed Yusuf, on behalf of ‘Concerned Officer,’ said that many of the 58 officers died from frustration and criminal neglect of their welfare by the Chairman.
The group in the petition to Buhari, which was dated January 2, 2018, also copied the Senate Committee on Drugs & Financial Crimes, House Committee on Drugs & Financial Crimes, Attorney General & Minister of Justice, National Security Adviser, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Femi Falana Chambers.
The group called on Buhari to as a matter of urgency sack Abdallah, stressing that since he came onboard, some of the key partners like the United States Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) among others were no longer comfortable with the state of affairs in the NDLEA due to the position of the agency’s Chairman.
The group gave the names of dead officers under Abdallah in the past two years with their ranks and last station as:
NARCOTIC ASSISTANT NASS II
Jibrin Alhassan Kaduna Command
Afolayan John A. Kwara Command
Mohammed Chabiri Aishatu Borno Command
NARCOTIC AGENT NA
Okereke Okezie Imo Command
Etuk Roseline Akwa Ibom Command
Sunday Afam Plateau Command
Ahmed Abubakar Borno Command
Onukak Patricia Bassy Lagos Command
Iorver Felix Akumave Taraba Command
Abanum Raymond Edeli Delta Command
Yahaya Godiye Dodos Yobe Command
Achube David Sunday Benue Command
Liman Salisu Ahmed Taraba Command
Balogun Erastus Osho Ogun Command
Akinfemiwa Sunday Femi Lagos Command
Faruk Ibrahim Bauchi Command
SENIOR NARCOTIC AGENT SNA
Salele Suleiman Kaduna Command
Bala Aliyu Umar Bauchi Command
Hassan Hasana Sokoto Command
CHIEF NARCOTIC AGENT CNA
Joseph Lar Gombe Command
Oyede Abdul Ogun Command
Suleiman Bala Fakai FCT Command
Andogwu A Nicholas Adamawa Command
Dalyop Julius Pam Plateau Command
Birabil Gbaradon Ondo Command
Sarah Yakubu Nasarawa Command
Nyam Babajo David Plateau Command
Kamo Thomas Kebbi Command
DEPUTY NARCOTIC SUPERINTENDENT DSN
Bot Christopher Nyam Plateau Command
Emerenini Cornelius Imo Command
Etudaiye Salihu Kogi Command
Timothy Isaacs Lagos Command
Abdulahi Mohammed Ekiti Command
Abdul Isa Shani Borno Command
Sanusi Abdullahi Osun Command
Achibong Peter Taraba Command
SUPERINTENDENT OF NARCOTICS SN
Odigie Felix Plateau Command
Abdul Ganiyu Ishaq Adamawa Command
Falodun Fumilayo Ogun Command
Bello Stephen Madike Lagos Command
Abdul Ibrahim Waziri Sokoto Command
Adeoye Onifade Olayiwola Rivers Command
Omo Martins Lagos Command
Gambo Musa Osun Command
Aminat Hassan Seme Border Command Lagos
CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF NARCOTIC CSN
Amaechi Kenneth Edo Command
Anthony Oshogwe Cross Rivers Command
Ibrahim Dada Kogi Command
Monday Fada Lagos Command
Kadiri Adesola Ramoni Ogun Command
Tijani Tajudeen Adebayo Abia Command
ASSISTANT COMMANDER OF NARCOTICS ACN
Yashim Danladi Lagos Command
The petition also accused the Chairman of encouraging corruption in the system by neglecting the welfare of both the living and dead officers, warning that if Abdallah was not removed, the image of the country would further be soiled in the international community.
The petition read in part: “Sir, Abdallah has unreservedly encouraged corruption by neglecting the welfare of both the living and late officers. It is a clear indication that he is not interested in fighting the drug war and corruption. The sum of N50,000 only given to families of three officers; Onwumere Nicholas, Peter Ebun and Abdulrahman Musa who were recently shot dead in Kogi State on October 13, 2017, by gunmen has exposed his insensitivity to the plight of officers. This is unbelievable."
“The drug situation since Abdallah took over is getting worse daily. In addition, the prevalence rate for drug use in the country has become unacceptably high and growing in a geometric proportion. Besides the abuse of cannabis, the use of cough syrups with codeine and other psychotropic substances is taking its toll on the youths."
“Speaking recently on Channels Television programme Dateline Abuja, Abdallah stated that there is no street in the country where an illegal drug is not being sold. In spite of the acknowledgment, he has failed woefully in addressing the situation. Increasing drug use is manifesting in rising cases of rape, armed robbery, and murder to mention a few."
“All NDLEA formations have been overwhelmed by counseling demands for persons hooked on drugs. Urgent intervention is needed to save the young generation from the drug epidemic.”
The petitioners further stated that the Special Enforcement Team of NDLEA that used to discover clandestine laboratories and large shipments of drugs in the past had become comatose because Abdallah refused to provide operational funds to the department.
The petition maintained that international partners are no longer interested in sharing intelligence with Nigeria, saying that such vital information was never acted upon by Abdallah.
“Every unit in the agency has suffered unduly from Abdallah's ineptitude. The reputation of Nigeria is gradually being eroded and only Abdallah can provide answers to these disturbing questions,” the petition added."
