NDLEA boss laments absence of psychiatric hospitals in Imo
The commandant told newsmen yesterday in his office in Owerri that the situation has made them refer some suspected drug users to another state such as Calabar capital of Cross Rivers for mental treatment. He pointed out that the command had visited almost all the hospitals in the state to identify where they could send […]
The commandant told newsmen yesterday in his office in Owerri that the situation has made them refer some suspected drug users to another state such as Calabar capital of Cross Rivers for mental treatment.
He pointed out that the command had visited almost all the hospitals in the state to identify where they could send suspect for mental rehabilitation but found none.
While acknowledging that the facilities for rehabilitation are not easy to come by because it would require the service of medical doctors to man the unit, he stressed the need for the establishment of the center in the state.
“We have gone round the hospitals in the state and have not found any psychiatric unit in the state”.
Speaking on the 2013 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, the commandant pointed out the dearth of staff is the major problem to the agency.
He noted that 5000 persons being the total number of staff for the agency across the whole command and 54 officers in his command would not be enough for the agency to effectively reach all nocks and crannies of the country.
He explained that no command has 100 officers adding that if given additional officers to work with the 57 already in his command, the command would achieve more.
He however expressed hope that with the expected 54 officers to be posted to his command soon making it 107, the command would give the state effective coverage in combating drug traffickers.
He disclosed that his command arrested 185 male and 60 female suspects in connection with hard drug trafficking between 2011 and June, 2013.
According to him a total of 1,406.78kg of Cannabises, 861.9gm of Cocaine and 384.3gm of Heroin have been seized within the period while 50 suspected drug traffickers prosecuted and 158 drug users counselled by the command.