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Drug War: NDLEA ‘ll deploy personnel in 774 LGAs in 2024 – Marwa
Drug War: NDLEA ‘ll deploy personnel in 774 LGAs in 2024 – Marwa
. Katsina Gov. Radda seeks partnership with Agency
By: Michael Mike
Personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are to be deployed in all 774 local government areas of the country.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) of the agency who said the deployment would be made sometimes in 2024, revealed that the was part of efforts to strengthen the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking especially in local communities.
He stated this while responding to request for partnership and deployment of more NDLEA officers in all parts of Katsina State by the state governor, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda to tame the problem of drug abuse and insecurity.
Marwa said with the agency’s staff strength expected to rise to 15,000 by the end of the year, the next “development is to deploy in the LGAs. We currently have zonal commands, state commands, and area commands. We want to go to the LGAs for the offensive action and the advocacy work. We would need more support to succeed. I appreciate the work of the Katsina governor as the challenges are numerous in governing the state. But if insecurity is a problem and is fueled by drugs, I believe we have to collectively take it out of the security equation.”
He commended Governor Radda for his efforts to surmount the various challenges faced and enhance the socio-economic development of the state.
He noted that: “The drug menace is a huge issue and has destroyed the lives of our youths and communities. It is the public enemy number one, and especially the criminal aspect of it. 99% of the criminals must first have access to drugs and be under the influence to perpetrate some of their acts. That is why the NDLEA under the collective support of the directorates and the management has put all efforts towards operation ‘offensive action.’ This involves going out to seize all drugs cultivated, imported or on the verge of being exported out of the country.
“Over 6,668 tons of illicit substances have been seized in two years, and we assure that we will continue relentlessly until the streets are clean of drugs. This is the drug supply reduction aspect, where we arrest the perpetrators of the act, and over 36,096 suspects have been arrested and more than 6,043 already prosecuted and convicted within this period.”
He said the other side of the fight is drug demand reduction, which focuses on prevention, treatment and aftercare of drug dependent persons. “The preventive measure faces those who have not started or are about starting drug use. They are targeted through advocacy and sensitisation across all levels. It is for this reason we structured the WADA initiative from the National to LGA levels. We appeal to the government to have a state drug control committee of which the NDLEA will be the secretary and the chairperson would be the First Lady of the state. The first ladies are in the strategic position, because they are the mothers and have the best interest of the government at heart.”
Speaking earlier, Governor Radda said he was at the agency as part of his government’s efforts to solve the problem of insecurity facing the state.
He said. “It is no longer news that the problem of insecurity has been ongoing for years and insecurity is one of the major issues confronting Katsina state. We receive unpleasant news almost on a daily basis on what has been the issues disturbing the state for a long time. We have taken some needful steps, we set up a Katsina community watch corps with locals to complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies but that is not enough. We decided to reach out to the NDLEA under the leadership of the Chairman/Chief Executive to combine our efforts and synergise to mitigate the effect of insecurity in the state. We must get to the root of the problem, and the root of the problem is drug abuse by the teeming youths in the state. We know that these inhumane acts cannot be committed without the influence of drugs.
“This synergy is important and I recognize that the NDLEA has been making a lot of efforts in supporting the government. But we still need more support from the Chairman/Chief Executive to stop the movement of drugs and ensure the arrest and prosecution of dealers in the state. We are appealing for better partnership and synergy to reduce the abuse of drugs, the activities of banditry and trafficking in the state. We hope the partnership will go a long way in alleviating the issues of the state and improving the economy. Once insecurity is reduced, economic activities will be conducted better. I appeal to the NDLEA for this support, and on behalf of the Katsina state government, we appreciate the NDLEA for the work you are doing. We hope this visit enhances a better working relationship between the NDLEA and the state.”
Drug War: NDLEA ‘ll deploy personnel in 774 LGAs in 2024 – Marwa
Farmer shoots herder to death after farm dispute in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
A herder has been shot dead following an altercation with a farmer over grazing in Guwal Village, Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno State.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 15 when Adamu Salisu, aged 65, and his son, Salisu Adamu, aged 30, were harvesting crops on their farm.
The source said a herder, Saleh, aged 30, from Chalu Village, moved his cattle into the farm and began grazing on the farmer’s legumes, prompting a confrontation.
“An altercation ensued when Adamu Salisu cautioned the herder to remove his cattle. The herder then attacked the farmer and his son with a machete, injuring them on the hand,” the source said.
According to the source, the farmer retaliated by shooting the herder in the stomach with a Dane gun.
Saleh was evacuated to General Hospital, Kwaya Kusar by the police but was certified dead on arrival. The corpse was photographed and released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites.
The farmer and his son received treatment for machete injuries sustained during the incident, while the suspect has been arrested and exhibits recovered.
Authorities have urged residents to seek peaceful resolution in disputes and to report any violent incidents to security agencies to prevent escalation.
Farmer shoots herder to death after farm dispute in Borno
Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC
Mr Jibrin Barde, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, in the 2023 General Election has formally announced his defection to the African Democratic Party(ADC).
Barde made the announcement in Gombe on Tuesday night during a chat with journalists in the state.
The announcement puts to rest, series of speculations about Barde’s actual party after leading some opposition blocs in July, to adopt ADC as a party for opposition coalition in the state.
Speaking about his defection, he said that he had since left the PDP early 2025 to join ADC with the mission to challenge the All Progressives Congress-led government in the state.
He said that though there had been speculations around the political party he belonged, with some speculating that he was a member of Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“I don’t have any stint with the SDP; I was a member of the PDP, I left the PDP early this year.
“There had been speculations across the state, nobody is aware of anything but of course I have left the PDP.
” I have been a member of the ADC formally since early this year.
“I am a member of the ADC and anybody who claims not to be a member of the ADC should come and show his membership card.
“This is my membership card and I am ready to revalidate it,” he said.
Speaking on his role in opposition coalition, Barde said that he had been working in collaboration with other opposition coalition members to bring together all the parties.
He said that except opposition parties in the state worked together and stayed united on a course, it would be difficult to oust the APC government.
“I call on members of the ADC in the state to come together and let us get this coalition stronger, that is what has happened at the national level.”
He said that the ADC ran an open door policy and did not believe in imposition as the party remains one-man one-vote party.
Barde said that Atiku Abubakar, Nasiru El-Rufai and Rauf Aregbesola had joined the ADC long ago. “What we are going to do now is revalidation of membership and mobilisation of new members.”
He called on the members of the PDP and all other opposition parties in the state to join the coalition movement to oust the All Progressives Congress at the state and national level.
Barde assured residents of Gombe State of good governance should the ADC form the next government, saying: “If we had taken over our government in 2023, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC
Gombe, UNICEF upgrade PHCs to improve maternal, child care
The Gombe State government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has begun revitalising three primary healthcare facilities in Akko, Kwami, and Dukku Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Dr Habu Dahiru, the state’s Commissioner of Health, made the announcement on Wednesday during a ceremony marking the official handover of the facilities to contractors.
He said the government was focusing on upgrading all primary healthcare centres, as they served as the first point of care for patients in communities.
Dahiru explained that the revitalisation aimed to bring the facilities to level two standards, including climate-friendly structures, staff quarters, water supply, and solar-powered electricity.
UNICEF is supporting one facility in each of the three LGAs, with contractors mobilised to begin work and a completion timeline of three months.
The commissioner said the upgraded facilities would enhance maternal and infant care, particularly in labour rooms, pharmacies, and laboratories, benefiting overall community health services.
He urged community leaders in the three LGAs to cooperate with contractors to ensure timely completion of the project.
Dahiru commended UNICEF and other development partners for their contributions to improving healthcare for residents of Gombe State.
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, said the project strengthened the healthcare system and aimed to save the lives of mothers and newborns.
She added that operational, well-equipped facilities attracted communities to seek care, stressing that access to water, toilets, and comfortable service areas improved utilisation.
Rafique hailed the partnership between Gombe State government and UNICEF in efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality across the state.
She noted that solar power, water supply, WASH systems, and facility service areas would be revitalised, urging stakeholders to ensure quality work for lasting community benefit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PHCs were handed over to the contractors by the Gombe State government and UNICEF for the commencement of works.
Gombe, UNICEF upgrade PHCs to improve maternal, child care
Farmer shoots herder to death after farm dispute in Borno
Gombe: Ex-PDP guber candidate announces defection to ADC
Gombe, UNICEF upgrade PHCs to improve maternal, child care
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