The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Jigawa Command, says it secured the conviction of 107 illicit drug peddlers in the state in 2024.

The State Commander of the Agency, Mr Musa Maina, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dutse, on Wednesday.

Maina said that 702 suspects, comprising 25 females and 677 males were arrested within the period under review, while 592,626.52 Kilo grams of substances suspected to be illicit drugs were seized.

He explained that the substances comprises of 466.968 Kilo grams of suspected cannabis sativa, 23.655 Kilo grams of suspected psychotropic substances and 100.185 Kilo grams of other substances of abuse.

He also said that the command within the period under review, counselled 591 drug users, comprising 27 females and 564 males on the negative effects of drug abuse.

He further said that the command successfully rehabilitated 36 drug dependent persons at its rehabilitation centre.

“According to him, we were also able to successfully rehabilitate 36 drug dependent persons at our rehabilitation center, as well as deliver 99 drug preventive education lectures and advocacy talks.

”The lectures and advocacy talks were done through various medium including tertiary institutions, the NYSC, government agencies, drug free club, CSOs, market places, as well as print and electronic media.”

The state commander added that the command had remained steadfast and was committed to reducing the demand for illicit drugs and other substances of abuse in the state.

“The command worked hard with great determination to limit the supply and abuse of hard drugs and other psychoactive substances and we are committed to doing even more to achieve much greater feat.

”While I solicit for greater collaboration from stakeholders to rid the state of substance abuse, I commended traditional and religious institutions, as well as the state government for their support and cooperation to the agency in its fight against drug abuse thus far.

”I also enjoin residents of the state to join hands with us in the fight against the menace of illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has commenced sensitisation campaign to ensure public compliance with the directive on vehicle owners to obtain third party insurance.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, said in Uyo on Tuesday that the campaign would deepen public understanding and acceptance of the policy.

“The policy is in line with Section 68 of the Insurance Act, and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance Act.

“It is a lawful thing to do, let us take the message to our people to obtain a third party insurance in order to avoid being caught by the law,” he said.

He said that the police in Akwa Ibom was fully ready to enforce the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The police official said that the third party insurance was a compulsory legal requirement for all vehicle owners to operate their vehicles on public roads.

Azare said that the enforcement which would commence on Feb. 1, would protect road users, and promote compliance with traffic laws.

He said that any vehicle found without valid third-party insurance certificate, would be seized and taken to the nearest police station.

“Such vehicle will only be released upon the presentation of valid insurance documents,” he said.

Azare warned officers that would participate in the enforcement to avoid unprofessional conducts, particularly extortion.

Also speaking, Mr Edward Odiete, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Akwa Ibom, urged vehicle owners to update their vehicle papers, especially third party insurance certificates.

“Third party insurance has been in existence for a long time. It is a necessary document that vehicle owners should have.

“We are going to collaborate with the police to enforce compliance effective Feb 1. Vehicle owners are urged to obtain the document only from genuine insurance companies,” he said.

Yobe Government and the Biomedical Research and Training Centre (BioRTC), Damaturu, will soon embark on a community-based research project to tackle the increasing cases of kidney disease in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Mai Mala Buni on Media and Public Engagement, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba-Saleh, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Damaturu on Tuesday.

Baba-Saleh explained that the study, led by researchers from diverse backgrounds in the centre, was intended to tackle the prevalence of the disease in the state, particularly in communities around Yobe River.

“The research brings together a diverse team of experts, including nephrologists, cardiologists, and environmental specialists, to investigate the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle associations of kidney disease.

“The project has garnered support from international partners in the UK, USA, and Ghana as well as numerous collaborators from within Nigeria,” the governor’s aide said.

He recalled that the governor had, earlier in an interaction with the centre’s visiting scholars, urged them to deepen the research on the causes of the disease in Gashua, which is worse-hit, to enable the government to find a lasting solution to the challenge.

He further stated that the Commissioner of Health, Dr Muhammad Gana, who was at a virtual meeting with the team on Monday, said that the global cooperation the research attracted underscored its significance, and potential for positive outcome.

Baba-Saleh added that BioRTC Director, Dr Mahmood Bukar, who was also at the meeting, announced that field work would commence in Gashua in the first week of February.

He further explained that Bukar, who is also the Special Adviser to Buni on Science, Technology and Innovation, argued that the team would collect samples to gain valuable insights into the causes of kidney disease in the area.

“According to previous studies, kidney disease in Yobe is linked to various factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and environmental factors, such as limited access to clean water and sanitation,” Baba-Saleh quoted the director to have said.