SaharaReporters learnt that a drug baron who masterminded the mob attack that killed and set ablaze an NDLEA officer, while another operative was beaten to stupor two years ago was also arrested.
At least 11 women were among 296 drug offenders arrested, while over 3000 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized by operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Adamawa State.
SaharaReporters learnt that a drug baron who masterminded the mob attack that killed and set ablaze an NDLEA officer, while another operative was beaten to stupor two years ago was also arrested.
SaharaReporters had reported on October 9, 2020, that Samuel Abba Birma, an officer of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, was burnt to death on mistaken identity in Adamawa State.
Birma, popularly known as Mbakwe, was killed while his colleague sustained fatal injuries from the mob action in the Hong Local Government Area of the state, according to police report.
At an event to mark the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, on Monday in Yola, the state capital, Commander of NDLEA Femi Samson Agboalu said 296 drug criminals had been successfully prosecuted within one year.
Among the seized illicit substances was 2000 kilograms of cannabis sativa concealed in a motorised concrete mixer, which was impounded at Girei in the Girei Local Government Area of the state.
Agboalu said, “Total drug seizure recorded in the period under review is 3,107.778 kg. Also, 28 live ammunition, a locally made pistol and a military camouflage were transferred to the Nigerian police, along with the suspects in view of inter-agency cooperation and synergy.
"On the prosecution of drug suspects in court, the command performed creditably as 104 male drug offenders were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, ranging from lowest sentence of six months to the highest sentence of four years without an option of fine in the period under review."
"Also in our custody for prosecution is the arrest of a notorious drug baron in Hong arrested with 57 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa, concealed in the boot of his Ash coloured Toyota Corolla car on the 16 June, 2022.
"The suspect, Abdullahi Musa, aka Yerima Uding, was fingered as the mastermind of the mob attack in Hong on October 6, 2020 that led to the burning and death of an NDLEA operative and another officer was brutally beaten to stupor and had since been bedridden, leading to his permanent incapacitation", he said.
Agboalu urged journalists as critical stakeholders, to play their role by sharing real facts on drugs situation, health risks, emphasising the negative effects of drug abuse on the individual, family, community, the economy, while de-emphasizing the financial gains of trafficking in drugs.