During a workshop on substance abuse and illicit drug
trafficking for senior secondary school students, organized by the
National Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse, Akingbede Bamidele narrated a story of how a teenage boy
sold his father’s SUVs valued for N7.5 million for N350,000 in order to buy hard
drugs.
trafficking for senior secondary school students, organized by the
National Committee on Narcotics and Substance Abuse, Akingbede Bamidele narrated a story of how a teenage boy
sold his father’s SUVs valued for N7.5 million for N350,000 in order to buy hard
drugs.
Akingbede Bamidele, who is the Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in
Abia State, recounted the story
Abia State, recounted the story
He noted that the teenager carried out the act because of his involvement in drugs.
Speaking on the topic “Illicit Drug and the Law,” Bamidele said the
teenager was later brought to NDLEA facility by his parents for
counseling and rehabilitation. He said the incident happened in Umuahia, the state capital.
teenager was later brought to NDLEA facility by his parents for
counseling and rehabilitation. He said the incident happened in Umuahia, the state capital.
He said, “There’s a boy at Umuahia that his father brought to us for
counseling. He sold two vehicles – a Lexus and a Forerunner worth N7.5m
for N350,000.
counseling. He sold two vehicles – a Lexus and a Forerunner worth N7.5m
for N350,000.
“Do you know why? The reason is because he was involved in drug abuse
and has gotten to dependent stage where there’s absolutely nothing he
cannot sell, just to buy drugs.
and has gotten to dependent stage where there’s absolutely nothing he
cannot sell, just to buy drugs.
“It was a situation of keep these vehicles for me and just be giving
me drugs. You notice when things began to miss at home that something is
wrong.”
me drugs. You notice when things began to miss at home that something is
wrong.”
The NDLEA commander, also attributed high rate of violent crime amongst youths to drug abuse and consumption of illicit drugs.
“The cult boys that cut the heads of other students at Uturu and used
them for goal post, when they were arrested, we went and tested them
and it was clear that they were high on drugs and that gave them such
mind to severe another persons’ head for goal post.
them for goal post, when they were arrested, we went and tested them
and it was clear that they were high on drugs and that gave them such
mind to severe another persons’ head for goal post.
“You have to be very careful. The young man you saw on the screen was
sent to deliver a parcel of which he doesn’t know much about and today,
he’s in trouble.
sent to deliver a parcel of which he doesn’t know much about and today,
he’s in trouble.
“Ignorance is not an excuse in law. The rich will use the children of the poor to do their illicit drug trafficking,” he added.