Edo fight against drug trafficking intensifies as the state, NDLEA and stakeholders unveil innovative measures after 289 arrests and 52 convictions

The Edo State Government, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, and other stakeholders on Friday renewed their commitment to strengthening the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse, calling for innovative and collaborative strategies to address the evolving threat across the state.

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The stakeholders made the resolution during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City. The event was held under the theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”

Representing Governor Monday Okpebholo, the Senior Special Assistant on Drug Policy and Trafficking Control, Andrew Efe, reaffirmed the administration’s determination to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking.

He said collaboration between government institutions, security agencies, families and communities remains essential to winning the fight against illicit drugs.

“When drug traffickers think they are clever in crime, we will make them understand that we are more innovative in justice delivery. Edo State will not be safe for drug trafficking and substance abuse. If you bring drugs into this state, we will find you.

We will seize your drugs, and you will face the full weight of the law. There will be no hiding place and no sacred cow,” Efe said on behalf of the governor.

He also urged parents, religious organisations and schools to play more active roles in preventing drug abuse through continuous education and moral guidance.

“The government and NDLEA cannot win this war alone. Prevention starts at home. Let us talk to our children at home, in churches and mosques. Schools and faith institutions should make anti-drug education part of the moral curriculum,” he added.

Efe noted that the state government is investing in youth empowerment and skills acquisition programmes to provide young people with sustainable opportunities and reduce their vulnerability to drug abuse and criminal activities.

The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, described the fight against illicit drugs as increasingly complex due to the emergence of synthetic drugs and the growing use of digital platforms by criminal networks.

“We cannot ignore the push factors of ignorance, poverty, unemployment, and peer pressure that drive many of our youth toward drugs,” Ofoyeju said, calling on parents and communities to become more proactive in protecting young people.

Providing a comprehensive update on the command’s activities, Ofoyeju disclosed that the Edo State Command arrested 289 suspected drug traffickers during the first half of 2026. The suspects comprised 176 men and 113 women.

He said operatives seized 14,705.31 kilogrammes of illicit drugs and destroyed an additional 20,303.07 kilogrammes of cannabis cultivated on plantations, bringing the total quantity of drugs removed from circulation to 35,008.38 kilogrammes.

According to the NDLEA commander, 52 drug traffickers, including 47 men and five women, were convicted during the period.

He also revealed that 135 individuals struggling with drug abuse received counselling and rehabilitation support, while the command organised 33 anti-drug sensitisation programmes that reached 6,092 participants across Edo State.

Ofoyeju reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to make Edo a hostile environment for drug traffickers through sustained intelligence-led enforcement, prevention campaigns and community partnerships.

The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo State Drug Control Committee, Mrs Edesili Anani Okpebholo, represented by Barrister Nimata Umar Ikhilor, warned that social media has become a growing channel through which young people are exposed to harmful substances and criminal influences.

“We must also confront a new and insidious challenge. The battlefield is no longer limited to our borders and highways. It has entered the phones and bedrooms of our children through the very tools of social media.

“If we continue to fight with yesterday’s methods, we will lose today’s youth. Our response must be smarter, not just louder,” she said.

Adding a youth perspective, Miss Edo International 2026, Bossey Vivian, described drug abuse as a serious social challenge affecting people across all age groups and pledged to use her platform to promote awareness.

“Drug abuse cuts across age, gender, and social status, leaving devastating effects on individuals and families. I will use my voice to address issues that affect families,” she said.

The event also featured goodwill messages from the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade and other stakeholders, underscoring the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing the drug menace.

As part of activities marking the day, members of the National Youth Service Corps Drug Control Club in Ikpoba-Okha staged a play highlighting the dangers of substance abuse, while Pioneer Education Centre School 1 emerged winner of the anti-drug quiz competition.

Pioneer Education Centre School 2 finished second, while Inomwan Foundation Schools placed third.

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26, provides an opportunity for governments and stakeholders worldwide to review progress, strengthen prevention strategies and reinforce public awareness on the dangers of illicit drug use and trafficking.

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Edo State’s latest campaign reflects a broader national effort to combine enforcement, education and youth empowerment in tackling one of Nigeria’s most persistent security and public health challenges.