The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 799 suspects, including a soldier, for drug-related crimes in Akwa Ibom State.
The agency also confirmed that 181 of the suspects have been convicted, while 2,000 kilograms of hard drugs have been recovered between 2024 and February 2025.
The NDLEA State Commander, Mrs. Obot Uduak Bassey, revealed this information during a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo.
She described Akwa Ibom as a high-risk state for drug use and trafficking, pointing out several flashpoints where illicit drug activities are rampant.
“It may interest you to know that we have raided Nasarawa, a Hausa community in the state, several times. We also arrested the soldier who was caught using hard drugs. He has been dismissed from service,” Bassey said.
She further lamented the dangers faced by NDLEA operatives, revealing that some officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“If you have been following the news, you will know that one of our officers was burnt alive during an operation against a drug gang in the state. I don’t want to go into details, but several of our operatives have been killed in 2025 alone,” she added.
The NDLEA commander noted that the agency is aware of several drug flashpoints in Uyo and other parts of the state but relies on informants to get more intelligence.
“The Hausa community at Marina Roundabout in Eket is a notorious flashpoint. We have been there a couple of times, and we were attacked, mobbed, and even shot at,” she said.
She called on residents to support the NDLEA’s efforts by providing useful information that can help in the fight against drug trafficking in the state.
