The Ekiti State Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Anthony Ariyo Owoniyi, has stated that drug dealers will no longer find things easy in Ekiti State.
The NDLEA Boss stated this while featuring on Awe Mo Ri O, an accountability programme on Progress FM Ado-Ekiti, sponsored by Wadata Media and Advocacy Center, with support from MacArthur Foundation.
He identified places known for hard drug business in Ekiti State, especially Ado-Ekiti, to include, Atikankan, Akure Motor Park and another major Motor park along Polytechnic Road.
Mr Owoniyi said though arrests were made during their patrols, residents around the places of arrests are always ready to rebuff the NDLEA officials on duty, stopping any arrest of the drug dealers.
He mentioned staff shortage and non availability of vehicles as some of the challenges hampering the performance of the agency in Ekiti state.
On the issue of corrupt practices by staff of the agency, as they have been accused of collecting bribe from offenders, the Ekiti State Commandant of NDLEA said he could not totally deny knowledge of such act by some members of the agency, noting that such act has, however, never occurred since he took over as state commandant in Ekiti.
He also disclosed that any officer caught taking bribes from offenders would be dealt with using the laws guiding the operations of NDLEA.
Mr Omoniyi revealed the readiness of the agency in Ekiti State to launch the War Against Drug Abuse( WADA) programme, which he said would make the operations of the drug dealers in the state very difficult.
