Emir Task Security Agents on Curbing Drug Peddling in Katsina

The Emir of Katsina , Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, has urged security agents to initiate strategies to eliminate illicit drugs peddling in the state.

The emir made the appeal on Monday in Katsina at a special meeting with the heads of security organisations to discuss the menace of illicit drug peddling in the state.

“It has come to the notice of the Emirate Council that several young boys, girls and women engage in the consumption of cough syrups with codeine without doctors’ prescriptions.

“The Katsina Emirate Council is worried that the future mothers of tomorrow are slowly killing themselves by taking illicit drugs,” he said.

Kabir advised parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards in order to prevent them from mixing with bad friends.

“We as the custodians of the culture and tradition of the people in Katsina, and we must do our best to make sure that youths shun drug peddling and abuse.

“I hereby call on youths to engage in skill acquisition training in order to avoid being idle, as idleness is one of the reasons for drug consumption by the youths,’’ the traditional ruler said.

Earlier , the state Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency , Hajiya Maryam Sani , said that the meeting was necessary to make plans to wipe out illicit drug trade and consumption in the state.

Sani said that state had been identified as holding the first position in the consumption and trade in illicit drugs in the North West.

She said that the command had intercepted large quantities of cannabis within the last two weeks and arrested some suspects.

Sani, who spoke on behalf of other security chiefs, said that many traders in the state had left their trades to engage in the sale of illicit drugs especially cough syrup.