Olu Samuel

The Kogi state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 7,746 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs between January and December 2025.

The Assistant Commandant-General of Narcotics, who heads the NDLEA Strategic Command in the state, Mr Mustapha Yahuza, said this during a press briefing in Lokoja on Friday.

He said that 339 suspects were arrested within the period for offences involving hard drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, tramadol and other psychotropic substances.

Yahuza said that the command secured 80 convictions, with offenders receiving various jail terms, all within the 2025 operational year.

According to him, the counselling unit of the command also provided brief intervention services to 238 drug-dependent persons during the period under review.

“In the area of drug demand reduction, which includes drug abuse preventive education and the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the command carried out about 71 sensitisation campaigns.

“These activities were conducted in motor parks, schools, marketplaces, mosques and churches, among other locations,” he said.

Yahuza further said that the command, in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation, Ohunene Empowerment Initiative, a pet project of the wife of the Kogi Governor, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, received support in public enlightenment and other drug prevention activities.

The NDLEA Commander appreciated Governor Ahmed Ododo for constituting a high-powered State Drug Control Committee (SDCC) to strengthen the implementation of drug supply and demand reduction policies in the state.

He said that under Ododo’s administration, a comprehensive drug rehabilitation and skills acquisition centre had been initiated and was currently under construction.

Yahuza expressed appreciation to the Governor for his commitment to the welfare, safety and security of lives and property in the state.