The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among young people, particularly undergraduates.
According to the Oyo State NDLEA Commander, Olayinke Joe-Fadile, about four to five out of 10 undergraduates are into drugs.
“We now can see children from age nine upward taking drugs.
The statistics are also showing us that about four to five out of 10 undergraduates are into drugs,” Joe-Fadile said during a rally to commemorate the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The theme of the 2025 celebration is ” _The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Circle”._
Joe-Fadile emphasized the need for coordinated long-term action to break the cycle of organised crime and drug trafficking.
“We believe that every day is for the thieves, but one day is for the owner. NDLEA will soon knock at the doors of drug peddlers to pick them for prosecution and necessary legal trials,” he warned.
The NDLEA has inducted traditional leaders as ambassadors to carry out campaigns against drug abuse among their constituents.
The agency is also collaborating with religious leaders to reach out to many people.
“We have also discovered that many people respect and listen to religious leaders, hence we are collaborating with them, using their platforms to reach out to many people,” Joe-Fadile said.
The NDLEA boss cautioned that drug users could have their internal organs destroyed, leading to a slow and painful death.
He assured that the agency would not relent in its efforts to ensure that manufacturers, producers, and sellers of illicit drugs face the full wrath of the law.
