The Delta State Government has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify its efforts against drug cartels, dealers, and suppliers in the state.
The Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, gave the challenge during an advocacy visit by the new State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Halilu Hamidu.
The DG articulated the administration’s commitment to achieving a drug-free Delta under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s leadership.
He emphasised the necessity for the NDLEA to adopt innovative strategies and a more proactive approach, moving beyond sporadic surveillance to a strategy centred on consistent intelligence gathering.
He said this shift aims to effectively dismantle drug cartels and prevent drug abuse.
Oghenesivbe highlighted the importance of targeting traffickers and suppliers, stating, “Without traffickers and sellers, there will be no victims.”
He said the action would reflect a broader strategy to protect the community and reduce the impact of drug-related issues in the state.
Oghenesivbe stated, “It is important that NDLEA strategically targets the flashpoints, especially in the state capital. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is determined to actualising the state government’s target of a drug-free Delta.
”You need to work with the intelligence derived from suspects and the street traders to reach the suppliers and the kingpins in drug dealings in order to secure the lives of Deltans, and the future of our children.”
While lamenting that the consumption of illicit drugs was the major cause of high rate of criminal activities such as rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killings, road accidents and so on, he appealed to the NDLEA to curb the trend.
In line with the Peace and Security cardinal points of the MORE agenda of the Oborevwori-led government, Oghenesivbe added that the state government donated over 40 operational vehicles to security agencies in the state, of which NDLEA was a beneficiary.
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He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment in the counselling and rehabilitation of drug victims through the establishment of rehabilitation centres in Kwale and Agbor to ensure that victims of drug abuse are rehabilitated before they are reintegrated into society.
He gave assurance of a sustained collaboration with the NDLEA, especially through the forthcoming 2nd phase of the Drug Free Delta Sensitization Campaign, pointing out the state government was considering relocating NDLEA office from Ogwashi-Uku to Asaba to ensure more effective operations.
The new State Commander of the NDLEA, Commander Halilu Hamidu, said the visit was to key into the already existing relationship the NDLEA has with the state government, and to deepen it.
He restated the resolve of NDLEA to change the narrative of drug abuse and trafficking in the state through three strategies namely, arrest and prosecution, sensitization and awareness creation, and harm reduction through rehabilitation.
Commander Hamidu who was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy State Commander, Victor Isibor and other officers, appealed to the state government to help him realize his goals through the provision of support and logistics.