The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says there is a direct link between drug abuse, crime and terrorism.
NDLEA’s State Commander, Plateau, Mustapha Yahuza, made the remark while receiving the staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Plateau office on advocacy visit in Jos.
The advocacy visit was on the increase in the recruitment of child soldiers in the North-East and other parts of the country, he said.
Yahuza stated that researches had shown that most crimes were committed under the influence of illicit drugs, as they served as an enabler.
The commander said that the NDLEA’s fight against drug abuse was also a means of fighting crime and terrorism.
According to him, most drug users are more prone to being recruited as terrorists or being involved in other nefarious crimes.
He described the issue of illicit drug abuse as a problem in the country.
Yahuza said that from November 2021 till date, the agency had seized over 200,000 tonnes of illicit drugs, and made over 400 arrests in the state.
He assured the NOA of working in synergy to curb drug abuse, which usually translates to crime.
Earlier, the State’s Director of NOA, Mrs Keneng Pam-Hworo, said that the visit was meant to collaborate with the NDLEA to curtail the recruitment of child soldiers particularly in the North-East of Nigeria.(NAN)
