Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has put necessary measures in place to ensure that the upcoming general elections would be peaceful and free of hard drugs in the state.
Barrister Tunde John, the NDLEA commander in the state, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in his office at Ogwashi-Uku.
John said the NDLEA would curb electoral violence, including ballot box snatching, violent killings, kidnapping and others which, according to him, come under the influence of drug use.
He called on youths in the state to shun violence and never to allow themselves to be used by dirty politicians who may want to use them to truncate the upcoming elections after giving them drugs.
He also called on businessmen and women in the hospitality industry not to allow drugs to be sold or used in their hotel premises.
John said the agency was empowered by law to seal up any premises used for drug sales, consumption and distribution, adding that he would give zero tolerance to drug trafficking and consumption in the state.
He advised parents to keep a watchful eye on their children to ensure they abstained from drug trafficking and consumption, saying those already neck deep in hard drug consumption should not hesitate to seek help from NDLEA.
While saying that the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking was for every one, he said that critical stakeholders, including government at all levels, religious bodies, non-governmental organisations and parents, should step up the fight against drug peddling and consumption in the state.
In a related development, John lauded Chief Jude Ndudi Ozah, the Isagba of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, for donating a utility van to the command.
He said the van would facilitate the operations of the command, calling on others to emulate Chief Ozah’s philanthropic gesture.
