The Akwa Ibom State commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Obot Bassey, has disclosed that the agency secured 68 convictions and rehabilitated 12 individuals in the state in 2023.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, Bassey stated that the state command during the period arrested 195 suspects, comprising 159 males and 36 females and seized drugs that weighed 1, 267. 24 kilograms worth millions of naira.
She said: “For the year 2023 just ended, the Akwa Ibom Command recorded the following achievements: arrested 195 suspects, comprising 159 males and 36 females, recorded drug seizures totaling 1,267.244 kg, secured 68 convictions and all of them are serving jail terms in our custodial centres.”
She added: “Compared with the statistics of 2022, it is obvious that the command had a better achievement in 2023. With a seizure of 460.344kg of drugs in 2022 and 1,267.244 in 2023, there is a 175 per cent increase in the seizures recorded.
“The implication of the prevalence of these hard drugs in Akwa Ibom State is the spike in criminal activities such as frequent cult clashes, youth unrest, daring armed robbery cases, kidnapping, militancy and the like.”
Bassey, who noted that Akwa Ibom is identified as mostly a consumer/transit state with drug dealers striving to litter the streets with illicit drugs, said NDLEA would continue to collaborate with sister agencies in the state to fight the drug menace.
“The State Command is still faced with challenges ranging from the need for operational vehicles to effectively and efficiently cover the 31 local government areas of the state. The Command is also in need of barracks for the safety of our officers,” she said.
