…Calls For Collaboration With NDLEA
By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The Transition Council Chairman for Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, Inuwa Bwala, has expressed concern over the emerging trends in drug addiction with unconventional drugs gaining grounds.
Bwala said this yesterday, while speaking when he played host to the Area Commander for Southern Borno, of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Auwal Babayo Kumo.
Mr Bwala told the visiting NDLEA commander, along with his officers, that new drugs like “Gum, Soak and Die, Akurkura and Ethanol,” all of which are not listed in the international list of prohibited drugs, are now common in the rural areas.
Calling for the speedy signing of the amended NDLEA Act, which may reflect such dangerous substances as addition to the international list, Bwala said that some of them are even more dangerous that cocaine and heroin or marijuana.
He told the visiting NDLEA team that, government is ready to collaborate with the anti-drug agency in discouraging the circulation and consumption of all non-rated local drugs.
Bwala averred that ‘gum,’ a chewable local herb, with very high nervous and mental effects, is very common, even amongst women, while ‘soak and die,’ a combination of chemicals used for the preservation of corpses, has gained currency amongst youths.
‘Akukura,’ also a local combination, is common among drivers, while tramadol has become a daily drug menu amongst labourers at building and other construction sites.
Agreeing with an earlier observation by the NDLEA commander, that many youths in Hawul have been exposed to these drugs, the council chairman called for collaboration with other local government chairmen in Southern Borno senatorial district for the establishment of a rehabilitation center in Biu, which products could be ready intakes into the newly built skills aquisition centers in the area.
He noted that the youth could still be made useful citizens, after exposure to drugs after rehabilitation and enrollment into skills aquisition centers, which are being built in all local government areas by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Leader of the NDLEA delegation, Kumo, had earlier informed the council chairman that he has been going round to introduce himself as the new helmsman in the area, and to seek for collaboration towards a planned public enlightenment campaign.
He said the area command of the agency has mapped out a multi-pronged approach to the fight against trafficking and consumption of illicit and prohibited drugs.
