The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kogi State Command, said on Tuesday that the agency was focused on reducing the circulation of illicit drugs to forestall usage.

The state commander of the agency, Umar Yahuza, disclosed this to journalists in Lokoja.

Mr Yahuza explained that with a reduction in the circulation of illicit drugs, usage and dependence levels would drop, which would in the long run reduce vices such as insurgency, kidnapping and others in society.

According to him, drug abuse is the catalyst for the insurgencies and kidnappings ravaging society.

He said, “The problems of insurgency and kidnapping are drug induced because it won’t be possible to carry out kidnapping without the use of illicit drugs. But we can stop insurgency, kidnapping and other vices if we collectively fight against the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in the country. Our focus now is to ensure that we reduce the circulation of hard drugs and their menace in Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.”

The commander disclosed that the command had put in place strategies to arrest drug abusers and traffickers as well as seize illicit drugs being peddled in and through Kogi.

He called on the state government, community and religious leaders and other stakeholders to join the NDLEA to successfully fight drug abuse and trafficking.

He stated, “We will take these messages to government institutions and schools, as well as religious places such as churches, mosques, market places and motor parks. This is with the aim of discouraging those contemplating going into the business of illicit drug trafficking and abuse to have a change of mind. And those that are into it and need succour and help can come forward to get counselling from the agency. Even those who are so used to it or who are addicted can overcome it, be rehabilitated and then be integrated back into society.’’

Mr Yahuza, therefore, called on stakeholders to help sensitise the public to the danger of illicit drugs and see how it could be stamped out by the state in particular and society at large.

(NAN)