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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
As parts of activities lined up to mark the United Nation’s Day against Drug Abuse Illicit Trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bayelsa State command, has joined the world to celebrate the event.
The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination Strengthen Prevention.’
While briefing the media, NDLEA’s Bayelsa State Commander, Bar Matthew Ewah said the UN decided to observe June 26 every year as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in order to demonstrate its determination and resolve to strengthen action and coorperation, aimed at achieving a safer, drug-free world.
He however noted that “the larger aim is to get individuals, communities and government at all levels and organizations, including the media, all over the world, to mark the observance with a view to raising the awareness of the problem that illicit drug represent to the society.”
Ewah said the aim of the Theme June 26, 2023, UN Day is to raise awareness on the importance of treating people who use drug with respect, treating drug users with empathy, encourage the provision of evidence based, voluntary service for all, offering alternatives to punishment, prioritizing prevention and leading with compassion.
“When all or part of the above is practiced, stigma and discrimination is avoided leading to promotion of language and attitudes that are respectful and non- judgmental of the drug user and substance abuser”
He said the occasion of the celebration of June 26 provides the opportunity for lead agencies to educate the public on the issue of drug use, drug abuse and drug misuse with a view to: Mobilizing and galvanizing political will and resources to address the drug scourge.
On achievements of the NDLEA in Bayelsa State, he said that from July 2022 to date, the agency has made arrests of suspects and seizures. “Four were arrested with three locally made pistols, one battle axe, and eleven cartridges and transferred to the police. One kidnap case was also transfered to the police during this period”
He also gave the summary of anti-drug abuse activities to include drug abuse prevention programmes in schools, communities, market places and NYSC orientation camps.
“At least 150 DAPE programmes were carried out across different locations” WADA programme at Bayelsa State Pilgrim Welfare Board, NDLEA Bayelsa State Command in conjunction with Brighter Future, an NGO based in Bayelsa State, offered three months Counseling Intervention Services to eight drug dependent persons selected and sponsored by Brighter Future from Amarata and Amassoma community.
“Presently, the command has a total of six male clients undergoing rehabilitation and care. Also under this period a total of one hundred sixty-three suspects were counseled.
0n prosecution, he disclosed that 32 suspected cases have been filed and nine convictions while 38 cases are pending,” he said.
Also speaking the chairperson of the Bayelsa Drug prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, (BADAPARC) Pharm/Dr Faith Zibo-Godwin Izibenua said the body set up by Governor Douye Diri in 2021 was mandated to curb drug abuse menace, by sensitization of the youth gainst drug abuse and it has been collaborating with the United Nations office on drug and crime and Presidential Amnesty Program.
She disclosed that the body had also extended its functions to secondary schools and traditional rulers for effective war against illicit drug abuse in the state.
“In collaboration with NDLEA the state trained school 90 counsellors with patrons and matrons in private and public schools as well as 124 teachers on basic life skill on drug abuse and we have also taken the battle to the Grassroot by involving the traditional rulers to fight the drug menace” she said.
She also disclosed that state government is currently building a permanent rehabilitation centre at Ogbia which will soon be commission, as well as a 35 bed bed space in collaboration with the NDLEA, all of these are parts of the policies to curb the menace.
