Borno State Government Escalates The Fight Against Rise in Drug Abuse

BORNO STATE GOVERNMENT ESCALATES THE FIGHT AGAINST RISE IN DRUG ABUSE

By Bulama Muhammad Bukar Maiduguri

……Collaborates with NDLEA and other partners in sustaining the fight against the menace of Drug Abuse in the state

Sequel to a recent media report credited to the NDLEA that youths in Borno state have resorted to unconventional ways of abusing toxic human urine, gutters and fumes from latrines in the name of getting themselves high, the Borno State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, paid a working visit to the NDLEA Borno State Command office. The visit was to thank the NDLEA and other partners for supporting the BOSG campaign against drug abuse especially among youth.

On arrival, Prof. Tar and his team were received by the Commander of the NDLEA in charge of Borno State, IM Mani. Prof. Tar informed the commander that he is at their office at the instance of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, who had been briefed in the last security council meeting that unconventional means of drug abuse are on the rise in the state as contained in a media report emanating from the NDLEA.

The Commissioner took time to explain the nexus between drug abuse and disturbing social vices in our societies today such as rape, theft, insurgency and terrorism. As such, he registered BOSG’s readiness under the Zulum administration to partner with the NDLEA and other development partners with a view to coming up with a tangible plan that will curtail the spread of the new unconventional ways of abusing drugs in the state.

It was noted that the recent report on the use of fermented urine and toxic fumes by addicts is an indication that the Government’s blockage of the sources and flow of street drugs is working, hence the trending resort to unusual bizarre substances by the youths. But the difficulty in control and availability of these strange substances is the new challenge that has to be confronted. Prof Tar called for collaborative action using preventive measures and deterrence through pre-emptive legal precedence.

In response, the Borno state NDLEA Commander, I M Mani, appreciated Gov. Zulum’s commitment in the fight against the menace of drug abuse in the state as His Excellency has recently shown interest to put in place a befitting rehabilitation center in the command. While affirming the recent report on unconventional ways of drug abuse in the state, the commander stated that due to the rise in inflation rate, many addicts can no longer buy the synthetic drugs and hence resort to the use of toxic human urine, gutters and fumes from latrines. As such, he called on parents to be watchful of their children’s behaviours and movements.

While highlighting some of the achievements recorded in the previous year under his watch, IM Mani stated that 4,320.9 kgs of narcotics amounting to 4.3 tonnes were seized, 485 suspects arrested, 53 were convicted by the Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri while, 736 suspects were counselled. He also stated that the command had received a court order permitting them to destroy exhibits amounting to about 18-20 tonnes.

However, the NDLEA commander appealed for the intervention of the BOSG in funding the destruction of the exhibits. He also called for the inauguration of the State Drugs Standing Committee put in place by Gov. Zulum sometime ago. The NDLEA team include the Deputy Commander Ibrahim Abdullahi; Deputy Commander in charge of Operations and Training, K Hassan; S Abdullahi, Asst Dir. Drug Demand and Control among others.

In the Commissioner’s entourage were the Executive Secretary, Council for Arts and Culture, Babagana Shettima; General Manager of Borno Printing Press, Maina Baba; Representative of the BRTV General Manager and Director Current Affairs, Ali Mamman Shuwa and other Directors in the ministry.

Highlights of the visit include presentation of a souvenir containing leaflets on dangers of drug abuse, inspection of seized exhibits and a group photograph.