Crime
AKUSKURA: the new deadly Psychoactive Substance in town
AKUSKURA: the new deadly Psychoactive Substance in town
By Mahmud Isa Yola
Recently, there has been a rapid emergence of a dangerous new psychoactive substance known as Akuskura/Kuskura, which is made of herbs laced with tobacco and cannabis and which is rapidly replacing controlled psychoactive substances, dominantly in the northern and south-west parts of Nigeria. When taken, the substance sometimes causes sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body and contraction of muscles.
The name Akuskura, sometimes known as kuskura or akurkura, is derived from the Hausa word “kuskura” noun, which can be used interchangeably to mean gargling and rinsing. The substance, which is of different varieties, is used in both liquid and powdered form by people who mostly seek to raise their levels of psychological or nervous activity in the body, or put it in simple terms, get high.
Akuskura came into the front-line on social and conventional media when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, intercepted over seven thousand bottles of the illicit substance along the Abuja-Kaduna express road, slated for distribution across seven northern states of Borno, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Gombe and Nasarawa. Although the seizure is the biggest made so far, there were several arrests and seizures made by the agency in different parts of the country.
Following the record-breaking seizure, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, in a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on August 19th, made the announcement of the official ban of the psychoactive substance. She said the agency received a number of reports of the use of a herbal preparation known as “Kurkura,” particularly in the country’s South West and Northern axis.The agency swung into action and carried out intelligence and enforcement actions.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, New Psychoactive Substances are “substances of abuse, either in a pure form or a preparation, that are not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or the 1971 Convention on Psychoactive Substances but which may pose a public health threat”. The term “new” does not necessarily refer to new inventions—several NPS were first synthesized decades ago—but to substances that have recently become available on the market.
As a new psychoactive substance, Akuskura represents a serious threat to public health and poses a challenge for drug policy. The negative health impacts and social harms of NPS are frequently largely unexplored, which makes prevention and counseling extremely difficult. It is difficult to analyze and identify the many different chemicals that are simultaneously present in the drug.
The above facts place people who take new psychoactive substances such as Akuskura at a high risk. According to the UNODC, the use of NPS is often linked to health problems. In general, side effects of NPS range from seizures to agitation, aggression, and acute psychosis, as well as potential development of dependence. NPS users have frequently been hospitalized with severe intoxications. Many NPS have no or very limited safety data on their toxicity and carcinogenic potential, and information on long-term adverse effects or risks is still largely unknown.The purity and composition of products containing NPS are often unknown, which places users at high risk, as evidenced by hospital emergency admissions and deaths associated with NPS, often including cases of poly-substance use.
Akuskura is largely distributed under the guise of herbs. They are mostly retailed by local herbalists and Islamic chemists, to mention but a few.
A kuskura wholesaler in Zaria city explained that the substance is originally meant for the treatment of headaches and catarrh and serves as a poster remedy against jinns and evil spirits. He says kuskura is also used as a sex enhancer among men. However, there is no scientific explanation for whether the substances are safe or can cure any form of sickness. This therefore drives home the fact that the substance has no established medicinal value.
Despite its unsafe nature, Akuskura is patronized by thousands of people in Nigeria.
Maikudi Shaga, a 31-year-old Zaria-based mechanic, confessed in a newspaper interview that he is addicted to the substance, adding that he uses the liquid substance at least seven times a day and said it gives him the energy to work efficiently without being subjected to physical fatigue.
Another user, Malam Adamu Mohammed, who spoke in a media interview, said that he does not see Akuskura as an illicit substance and that is the notion held by many other users. He said he has been using it for more than a year now and it cures malaria, typhoid, pile headaches and increases his performance in bed.
The spread of Akuskura is undoubtedly aided by the fact that the substance is largely and ignorantly misconstrued as a medicine. A whole-seller in Zaria was quoted to have said he sells more than 300 bottles of Akuskura in a day.
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Another factor that aids the prevalence of Kuskura is its affordable price. The substance is readily available in Islamic chemists’ and other local herbal centers at a very cheap price. With a bottle sold at the cost of N100 and sometimes a drip for N50, the Akuskura is affordable even to a low-income earner.
Thirdly, the substance gives both hallucinogenic and stimulant effects to its users. Hence, it is filling the void of controlled substances, which are now very scarce due to the surge of arrests and seizures by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). With a bottle of codeine sold between N7,000 And N25,000 and beyond, Akuskura offers substance abusers an easy alternative with just N100 or even less.
However, the adverse effect of Akuskura remains disturbing. Like all other illicit substances, Akuskura gives a euphoric effect of being “high” for a certain period of time. However, there are health-threatening short and long time effects such as dissociation, violent episodes, psychotic episodes, compulsive desire to commit crime, aggression, perceptual distortion, hallucination and many others.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) OFR, during a brief interview with the British Broadcasting Cooperation, BBC Hausa, said that the agency will continue to dismantle the clandestine factories behind the production of the illicit substance, adding that the recent seizure of over 7,000 bottles by the agency sends a warning to the peddlers of the illicit drug that the NDLEA will continue to deal with them within the ambit of the law. This should serve as a desist warning to the users and traffickers.
Mahmud Isa Yola is Special Assistant to the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA
AKUSKURA: the new deadly Psychoactive Substance in town
Troops deactivate illegal bunkering sites, arrest suspects, recover arms in Niger Delta
By: Michael Mike
• Army cracks down on oil theft and sabotage, seizes over 118,000 litres of stolen products
Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified operations against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
In a statement Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations Lieut. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said over the past week, 11 suspects were arrested, more than 20 illegal bunkering sites were deactivated, and 22 boats used for criminal activities were intercepted.
He added that six firearms and cartridges were recovered, along with over 118,000 litres of stolen oil products.
He said in Rivers State, multiple operations were conducted, including the dismantling of four illegal refineries and the interception of 35,000 litres of stolen products in the Jigama-Bille area of Degema Local Government Area (LGA). Similarly, in Krakarma-Bille, troops deactivated four illegal refining sites, seizing 14,000 litres of stolen automotive gas oil and 8,000 litres of crude oil. In the Orashi River area, 5,500 litres of condensate were recovered, and one suspect was arrested for pipeline vandalism near the Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA.
Danjuma said in Bayelsa State, troops deactivated an illegal refining site in Nembe LGA, confiscating over 30,000 litres of stolen oil. In Southern Ijaw LGA, two active illegal refining sites were dismantled, and 4,500 litres of stolen products were seized. Additional operations in the Tobo, Obotoro, and Arugba Creeks recovered over 15,000 litres of illegally refined products and identified illegal pipeline connections near Idu Wellhead 4.
He said in Delta State also saw significant actions as troops intercepted a Lexus RX 350 carrying three suspects and recovered five pump-action rifles, one Dane gun, and 51 cartridges. The suspects have been handed over to security authorities for further investigation. In Warri South LGA, troops intercepted a wooden boat siphoning crude oil from an Opumami Oil Field wellhead. Several illegal refining sites were deactivated in Benneth Island, leading to the recovery of over 7,500 litres of stolen crude.
Danjuma said the troops also maintained heightened security patrols in Akwa Ibom State to prevent criminal activities in both hinterlands and waterways.
Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, commended the troops for their efforts and vowed to sustain operations to safeguard national assets and infrastructure in the region.
Troops deactivate illegal bunkering sites, arrest suspects, recover arms in Niger Delta
Another Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Makore Killed by Security Forces
By: Zagazola Makama
In another major break through in the Northwest of Zamfara, by Nigerian security forces, notorious bandit leader Kachalla Makore has been killed along with several of his fighters.
The operation took place along the Kwankele road in the Magami area of Gusau Local Government Area on Sunday, September 23, 2024.
Kachalla Makore and his men were reportedly en route to recover the body of fellow bandit leader Kachalla Sani Black, who had been killed earlier in the Dan Sadau area of Maru Local Government Area. Sani Black was neutralized in Magama Mai Rake, another notorious hotspot for bandit activity.
Kachalla Makore rose to power after the death of his predecessor, Kachalla Damuna, and was known for his criminal operations around Kangon Garacci village in the Dan Gulbi area, also within Maru Local Government Area.
This victory by security forces comes as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate top bandit leaders as well as curb banditry and violent crime in the North West.
Another Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Makore Killed by Security Forces
NDLEA intercepts ex-convict with over N4.6 billion worth of cocaine at Lagos airport
By: Michael Mike
Barely 16 months after he was arrested and convicted for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine, a 48-year-old businessman Christian Ogbuji has been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for importing 817 wraps of the same Class A drug weighing 19.4 kilogrammes with an estimated street value of over N4.6 billion.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Ogbuji was first arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday 10th May 2023 upon arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 for ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.986 kilogrammes. He was subsequently arraigned before Federal High Court 12 Abuja presided over by Hon. Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/192/2023 and convicted on 13th July 2023. Ogbuji was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3 million, which he paid and was set free.
Babafemi said Ogbuji on the court order also forfeited the seized 1.986 kilogrammes cocaine, his international passport, 14 US dollars and 9000 Uganda shillings found on him at the time of his arrest.
The spokesman said: “Not done with crime, Ogbuji was again arrested at the Lagos airport on Wednesday 18th September 2024 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos. The suspect had approached the joint examination table with a black travelling bag which was searched by an NDLEA operative who cleared the luggage. In a dubious move, Ogbuji sneaked back to the carousel area to put inside the cleared bag a black backpack he left on the conveyor’s belt.
As he made his way out of the arrival hall, vigilant NDLEA officers intercepted him and subjected him to a second search. It was then large wraps of excreted cocaine were found concealed inside the backpack hidden in the black travelling bag that was earlier found with the suspect.
He said a total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.4 kilogrammes belonging to different members of a drug cartel were recovered.
Babafemi said during interrogation of the suspect, he stated that he initially left the backpack containing the drug at the carousel area as a strategy to beat NDLEA operatives, adding that he never knew there could be a “secondary search” since he had presented his bag for search previously and nothing incriminating was found. He claimed he had to procure a new international passport to continue his criminal trade.
The spokesman said investigations revealed Ogbuji is an unrepentant kingpin within the network of drug cartels operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria and others in the West African sub-region like Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire.
In his reaction to the arrest of Ogbuji, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for an excellent job done, adding that the seizure of such a large consignment of cocaine at the airport is a milestone that will send a strong message to the international drug cartels trying to find footholds in Nigeria.
He however assured that the agency will continue to work to disrupt the activities of drug cartels operating in the country.
Ends
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