The Civil Liberties Organisation, Akwa Ibom State Branch, in its commitment to reach agencies that have statutory coercive powers, which could be misused in their dealing with the civil populace, paid a visit to the Akwa Ibom State Headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Uyo.
The Akwa Ibom CLO was briefed by the Commander of Akwa Ibom State Command of the NDLEA, Mr. Malami Mohammed Sokoto, on the operations of the agency and the command’s adherence to the provisions of the constitution and the Administration Criminal Justice Act 2015, in all its dealings with suspects, thereby ensuring that their rights are not denied them.
The CLO took notice of the following lapses and inadequacies:
1. The NDLEA in Akwa Ibom State has only one rickety operational vehicle with which to cover the entire 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State. The implication of this is that the agency cannot cope with its duty of tackling the growing menace of drug demand and usage in Akwa Ibom State. Reported cases of drug sales and drug rings take unbearable long time to investigate and raid.
2. The command is not even a member of the state’s Security Council. This has largely led to the agency not involved at the coordination level of the administration of criminal justice in the state. NDLEA’s imputes in the tackling of crimes, which are essential are neither sought nor incorporated into the crime fighting apparatus of the state.
3. The Command’s base needs so much touch in its physical structures as parts of the building housing the agency are caving in and in need of some repairs.
4. The agency saddled with the responsibility to rehabilitate drug users and educate the Akwa Ibom populace on the dangers of illegal drug usage, lacks the necessary funding to carry out this important function.
As an organisation committed to the defence of the rights of the citizens and the education of the civil populace on their civic rights and responsibilities, we sincerely wish to thank the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel in his commitment to stamping out cultism and other associated crimes in the state.
We note and appreciate the assistance that has been extended to other security agencies and wish to make the following prayers to the governor:
I. That the Akwa Ibom State government should come to the immediate aid of the NDLEA in the state to enable it perform its statutory duties, by providing the agency with needed operational vehicles. This will enhance their response time to reported cases of drug peddling and criminal distribution of drug in the state.
II. The command is also in dire need of communication gadgets to meet their communication needs. We urge the government to urgently come to the command’s aid.
III. We also appeal to the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to consider the addition of the agency into the state’s Security Council. This is important, especially at a time the government is seeking peaceful means of resolving the security challenges in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo and the principled fight against cultism. It is worth reiterating that crime and drug usage are like twins. Crimes in the state can be further reduced when drug is taken out of the streets of Akwa Ibom State. As a member of the Security Council in the state, the agency will be in a better situation to give the drug perspective to the fight against crime in the state.
The CLO is aware that the NDLEA is a federal agency, but we urge the state government not to shy away from the fact that the job of the agency has direct impact on the people of the state. A drug-free Akwa Ibom State is less-crime Akwa Ibom State. The maintenance of the state’s enviable record as one of the most peaceful states in the country can only be enhanced when we have a drug-free state. The drug demand and usage statistics in the state is alarming and it could triple if the state does not assist this agency.
On the CLO’s team were, the Chairman, Otuekong Franklyn Isong; Secretary, Barr Ita Duke; Publicity & Campaign Secretary, Barr David Augustine; Treasurer, Barr Godknows Njoku; past chairman, Barr Dominic Okon; Barr Chris Ekpo, and Barr Innocent Idemudia.
Signed:
Comrade (Otuekong) Franklyn Isong
(Chairman)
Comrade (Barr) David Augustine
(Publicity & Campaign Secretary)
