NDLEA Charges Parents, Children Against Drug Abuse In Enugu

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Enugu State Command, has appealed to parents and children against drug abuse as the state ranked second in illicit drugs production in Nigeria.

The state was said to have been ranked high in illicit drug production as many clandestine laboratories were discovered where crystal meth was produced in large quantities.

According to NDLEA’s Assistant State Commander, Drug Demand Reduction Department, Mr Adjai Eyiuche, stated this during the Mothering Sunday celebration at St. Mulumba Catholic Church, Enugu on Sunday.

Eyiuche, who addressed the worshippers during the advocacy visit, said that the appeal followed the high incidence of drug abuse and production among young people in the state.

He said that the most abused illicit drug in the state was crystal meth, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ in Igbo language.

He said that three of such laboratories in Udi, Nkanu West and Trans-Ekulu were recently busted and destroyed by operatives of the command.

“We are here to address you because of the ravaging effects of crystal meth which is destroying our youths and families,” he said.

Eyiuche said that the church had a special role to play in the war against drug abuse, adding that the vision of the agency was to have a drug-free society.

Also, the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Anietie Bassey, said that the enormity of illegal drug and substance abuse in the state had made it necessary to expand their scope of sensitisation.

Bassey said that the command had, before now, concentrated its sensitisation and advocacy on urban areas of the state.

“It is now very important to take the sensitisation to rural areas and the suburbs because the manufacturing and abuse of illicit drugs are endemic there.

“These illicit drugs and substances are produced in clandestine laboratories and we are getting intelligence,” he said.

The state commander said that the command had been destroying such laboratories immediately they were discovered.

Bassey called on residents of the state to volunteer useful information that would enable the command track such clandestine laboratories with a view to destroying them and arresting the operators.

Report has it that the Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Media and Advocacy of the command, Mrs Callista Mmeka, was honoured by Catholic Women Organisation with the title: ‘Friend of Mary’ during the event.