Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba-Marwa (rtd), chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), reported that the agency had confiscated nine tonnes of illicit drugs worth N1.5 billion and detained 1,078 individuals in Kano State in 2022.
Six cannabis sativa farms were also found and destroyed by the NDLEA, according to him, in five local government areas of the state.
Marwa made the disclosure in Kano on Tuesday.
He claims that as the general election in 2023 draws near, appropriate and sufficient steps have been done to inform political party leaders of the effects of drug misuse.
“Production, transportation, selling and offering narcotics are criminal offences,” he said.
During election campaigns, certain unpatriotic politicians, according to Marwa, utilized the youths as thugs.
“Drugs are given to the youth to cause confusion and snatching of ballot papers among others, especially when they feel they are likely to lose an election,” he said.
Before, during, and after the elections, the NDLEA chairman urged parents and guardians to warn their children of being manipulated by unpatriotic politicians.
“We are in political dispensation. Some politicians use the youths to get what they want. Let’s work together in the areas of preventing drug abuse among youths,” he said.