The Taraba State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has identified the state as a hub for illicit drug consumption.
Nanzing Sallah, the state commandant, speaking on Wednesday at a meeting with the state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), said individuals between the ages of 16 and 46 are most affected.
He pointed out that prevalent drugs in the region include marijuana, codeine, tramadol, and methamphetamine (ice).
Connecting the high rate of criminal activities in the state to drug abuse, Sallah attributed this concerning trend to the activities of drug traffickers, who exploit the state as a transit point.
Reiterating the commitment of the agency to addressing the issue, Sallah reported numerous arrests and seizures of hard drugs in the state.
While commending the state government for pledging to establish a rehabilitation centre, the facility, if eventually established, he believed would go a long way in rehabilitating drug abusers.
He pledged the Agency’s dedication to collaborating with the NUJ, saying such a partnership would help publicize the agency’s activities and restore the state’s tarnished image.
NUJ State Chairman Mathew Jen applauded the NDLEA’s efforts to combat drug abuse in the state, assuring it of the journalists’ commitment to providing extensive coverage to achieve the common goal of a drug-free Taraba State.