NDLEA Commander raises alarm over rising Drug Abuse among Youths in Oyo

The Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Oyo State, Mr. Olayinka Joe-Fadile, has expressed deep concern over the increasing abuse of illicit drugs in the state, particularly among the youth.

Joe-Fadile voiced his concern during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, at the sidelines of the “Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits” event held in Ipara town, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

He revealed that the widespread use of Cannabis Sativa has evolved into more dangerous strains known as Loud, with variants such as Scottish Loud, Canadian Loud, and Arizona Loud becoming popular.

“These loud drugs are even more expensive and far more dangerous than ordinary Cannabis Sativa,” he said. “They are killing young people gradually and painfully.”

Joe-Fadile used the platform to appeal to the youth to avoid substance abuse, warning that while drugs may seem to offer temporary inspiration, they ultimately destroy lives.

“You may think the drug is giving you inspiration now, but it will eventually kill you slowly and painfully,” he said.

Speaking on the collaboration among security agencies, Joe-Fadile noted that the recent destruction of over 1.6 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs was achieved through joint efforts across multiple NDLEA commands.

“In the past, each command used to burn its drug exhibits separately. But this time, the Lagos Strategic Command, Ogun Command, Oyo State Command, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, Lagos Seaports Command, Idiroko Border Command, and Seme Command all came together to carry out the destruction exercise,” he explained.

He added that the operation demonstrated the agency’s united front in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse, especially across strategic zones like Zones 9 and 11.

The NDLEA commander urged parents, community leaders, and stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns and work together to combat the rising tide of drug abuse in Nigeria.