Buba Marwa, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has cautioned youths against illicit drug consumption and trafficking.

Mr Marwa gave the advice on Tuesday during the inauguration of the agency’s new Zonal Office in Ayingba, Dekina LGA of Kogi.

Mr Marwa said the establishment of the zonal office at Ayingba was to help the agency in its activities to checkmate the prevalent drug abuses and trafficking in Kogi and North-Central.

He called on the residents of Kogi to join the agency in its fight against illicit drug consumption and trafficking to save the youths from destruction.

“As patriots and concerned citizens of our dear country, we should rise to the occasion to ensure that we fight against the menace to keep our youths safe and sound. Illicit drugs are cutting short lives of our children, very promising children who are our future leaders. We must therefore not allow that to happen,” he said.

The NDLEA boss commended Governor Usman Ododo for his unalloyed support of the state agency.

Inaugurating the office, the EJE of Dekina, Usman Obaje, commended NDLEA for its resilience in fighting the illicit drug war in Kogi and the entire nation.

The traditional ruler said, “The quantum of seizures and arrests of drug traffickers in recent times speaks volumes of the enormous work your agency is doing to protect the citizens from destruction.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the NDLEA Kogi commander, Umar Yahuza, said the opening of the zonal office was to ease the agency’s activities in tackling drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

(NAN)