The Adamawa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 583 suspected drug offenders and secured the conviction of 270 of them as part of its sustained crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse.
The State Commander of the NDLEA, Aliyu Abubakar, disclosed this on Friday in Yola during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. He noted that the command is also making steady progress in concluding other pending drug-related cases.
Abubakar said that between June 2025 and June 2026, the command seized about five tonnes of illicit substances, including tramadol, diazepam, codeine and methamphetamine, popularly known as “ice.”
He further revealed that the command uncovered and destroyed three cannabis farms—a 1.5-hectare plantation in Mayo Belwa Local Government Area and one-hectare farms each in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.
The NDLEA commander stressed that the agency remains committed to combating drug abuse and trafficking through intelligence-led operations, arrests, prosecutions and public awareness campaigns.
Speaking at the event, guest lecturer Dr. Stephen John highlighted the link between drug abuse and violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal activities, noting that many offenders commit such crimes under the influence of drugs.
He also warned that criminal elements are increasingly adopting sophisticated methods and weapons, urging governments to strengthen the capacity of security agencies to effectively tackle the evolving threats.
Representing Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, the Commissioner for Culture, Aloysius Babadoke, announced that the governor had directed the State Ministry of Education to incorporate drug abuse education into the school curriculum to equip young people with the knowledge needed to resist substance abuse and its harmful consequences.
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