The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), disclosed on Friday, 15 December 2023, that it arrested 59 suspected drug dealers in Sokoto, including the mastermind behind the killing of its operative.
Mr. Muhammed Iro, the NDLEA State Commander, said the undisclosed suspect were arrested in January 2023 at Bagarawa Village in Bodinga Local Government Area.
He said; “In the process, the suspect alerted villagers who assisted him to escape arrest, leading to an attack on our personnel, and the brutal killing of one of them.”
Iro stated his sadness over lack of community support for the agency, and emphasised the need for the public to be aware of its responsibilities.
“A drug dealer, who is destroying your children’s future, and instead of assisting us in effecting his arrest, you came out to attack us.”
“However, after forcibly releasing him, you go ahead to kill one of our officers,” Iro said.
He said the arrested suspect had been on the wanted list of both the Nigerian Police, and NDLEA.
The Commander assured that the suspect would face the full force of the law and that investigations would be carried out to identify his accomplices.
“We are committed to ensuring that the suspect faces the full force of the law, including those responsible for the brutal killing of our officer,” he said.
The commander attributed the arrest of the 59 other suspects to the efforts of a joint operation, involving the Army, Civil Defence Corps, Police, and other Security Agencies in the State.
“This operation aligns with Gov. Ahmed Aliyu’s commitment to reversing the security situation in the state.
Iro said; “We have made significant strides, arresting 54 males and 5 females at various drug joints in the Sokoto metropolis.”
The suspects will undergo investigation to identify the dealers for prosecution, users for counselling and those not involved in drug activities will be severely warned.
He underscored the severity of the drug abuse menace and its connection with security challenges.
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Iro said that the operation would continue in order to rid society of the crime and raise public awareness about its dangers.
“We believe that by addressing drug abuse, we can significantly reduce criminal activities and social vices in society.
“Our commitment to combating drug merchants and users remains sacrosanct as we work towards a society free from drug-related crimes,” the commander said.
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