The Oyo State Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Josephine Ruth Obi, has urged the good people of the state to join hands with the agency in the fight against drug abuse which is becoming more alarming in the state in order to save lives.

Josephine Obi disclosed this on Monday in an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA.

The state NDLEA commander revealed that despite the pandemic in year 2020, there was still an increase in drug trafficking in the state, adding that the agency without relenting, worked tirelessly to curb the menace.

While revealing the command’s achievements for the year 2020, the NDLEA State Commandant stated that “The agency was able to destroy 3 cannabis farm, arrested 126 suspects, withheld 388.127kg each of various drugs, 16 people were taken to rehabilitation centre, 13 were discharged, 64 people were placed on counseling because they were with small quantity of the various drugs, and local pistol and jack knife were recovered from operation.”

The commander further stated that that “idleness make people fall victim of drug trafficking.”

The NDLEA Boss urged the good people of Oyo State to join hands with the agency by providing credible information about any drug joints, adding that eradicating drug abuse in the state and country, at large, is not solely on NDLEA, but everyone’s job.

She also called on stakeholders, NGOs, corporate organizations, learning institutions and influencers to help in creating more awareness through the use of social media, print or broadcast, and organizing seminars for youth of different groups on the damaging effects of drug trafficking on well being.

Finally, Commandant Obi further stated that “Drug abuse isn’t a way of having fun.  It has dangerous effects on health, destroys lives, causes victims become dependent on drugs, and increases crime rate in the society.”