THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom State has solicited the assistance of the traditional institution to stop the illegal peddling and abuse of hard drugs in the state.This appeal was made by the state Commander, Mrs. Ruth Obi, during a courtesy visit on ObongEssien Ekidem, the Ntisong Ibibio III in Uyo.According to the NDLEA boss, the increasing sales and abuse of narcotic drugs in the state informed her decision to partner with everybody, especially the traditional institution, in the drug war.Obi, therefore, appealed to the traditional ruler to use his position to condemn the use of these dangerous drugs at every public fora, stressing that such drugs had been discovered and declared not only as harmful and destructive to the human body but also as posing very serious setback on the development of the economy.'So, the problem we are having is that the abuse of these narcotic drugs is spreading like fire in every corner of the state by the day. The NDLEA cannot do it alone. We have come to you and your council because of the authority you have over your subjects.'If His Majesty and Council in any fora speak against the act to make the people know that he is against the sale and use of these drugs, it will go a long way to help.'Some people started using drugs because they were not aware of the dangers inherent in using them, but the dealers or sellers are aware because they hide to sell to people. They do not sell in the open and that is why we must stop them from selling and destroying more lives, especially the young and the youth who will be future leaders', she said.She further appealed to the Ntisong and other traditional leaders to use their position to condemn the business of drug barons in the state by advising them to desist from the heinous crime and engage in otherlawful, genuine and accepted businesses.The NDLEA boss expressed gratitude to the monarch in his concern and cooperation to the agency since her assumption of duty in the state, maintaining that disallowing illegal drug dealers from using their money in rendering any gesture to people and the society would help to discourage them and stop those that might beignorantly lured into the illegal trade.She alleged that the physically-challenged persons and indigent ones were used to peddle the hard drugs because they do not have any other means of livelihood, calling on the traditional institution to set up social welfare programmes as a way of assisting such people to stay out of the illegal business.She noted that the agency only prosecuted dealers and not users but rather assisted them through counselling, treatmentand rehabilitation to get normal and back into the society.Responding, Essien Ekidem commended the NDLEA commander for her concern and the good works her administration had been doing towards making Akwa Ibom State drug-free.He also commended her for recognising the traditional institution as worthy partners in fighting the war against illicit drugs.
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