The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara State Command, has intercepted and seized 1,864 kilograms of hard drugs and arrested 1,025 suspects between January and June this year.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Commander Popoola Fatima made the disclosure at a press briefing to kick off the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All” in Ilorin.
According to her out of the 1,025 suspects arrested between January and June 2025, 934 are male while 91 are female.
She explained that during the period under review the agency has also secured 149 convictions through the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The NDLEA commander noted that the command has admitted 36 clients, of which 25 have been successfully treated and reintegrated into the society, while eight others are still undergoing rehabilitation at the agency’s facility.
Commander Fatima described drug abuse as a deepening crisis threatening families, communities and national development which everyone must take responsibility to end.
She maintained that the command has partnered with Kwara State University to conduct drug tests on new students and also collaborated with the state government to screen newly recruited teachers with a view to preventing drug abuse.
Commander Fatima said the command has lined up several activities, including a Jumat service, a public rally, church service and community outreach to schools and local groups to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse.
In her remarks, the Chairman Kwara state Drug Control committee, Pharmacist, Barakat Olanrewaju, said the committee has been able to reach out to about 100 schools and 32 communities across the 16 local government areas of the state to enlighten the residents on the dangers of drug abuse.
Olarewaju appealed to the state government to urgently complete the construction of Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari rehabilitation centre to take care of those who needs counselling and rehabilitation.
