Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday, vowed to crackdown on all illegal drug markets, structures and other places that encourage criminal activities in all the 27 local government areas of the State.
Governor Zulum spoke during a visit to sympathise with residents of the affected community in Konduga local government area, where about 12 persons lost their lives, and 18 others sustained varying degrees of injuries, after a suicide bomber Friday night detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a fish market in Konduga.
Noting that the incident occurred at an illicit drug joint in the area, Governor Zulum said he will liase with the State House of Assembly towards ensuring that the Executive Order he recently signed banning illegal activities, such as illegal drug markets like sale of marijuana (Indiam Hemp), prostitution, among others, was enforced, not only in Maiduguri, but in the rest of the local government areas of the State.
The governor said, “We are here to commiserate with the victims of the bomb blast that occurred in Konduga. A delegation has come before to sympathise with the victims, but I have come personally to sympathise with them.
“Most importantly, earlier, the government had directed that people should not carry out illegal activities in the area, but the vicinity where the incident occurred was a joint. Normally, people sell marijuana, indulge in all sorts of crimes there. We received a report from the community that government should take a decisive action on those that are operating in the area.
“Government has written to them. The taskforce on ban and sale of illegal drugs and operation of illegal structures have notified all of them that are selling marijuana and other atrocities in Konduga local government area, but to our dismay, they refused to heed to government’s directive. On this note, I want to advise the people of Konduga and the general public that they should desist from such activities.
“We had already directed those operating illegally around the blast site to vacate. Unfortunately, our warnings were ignored. People continued selling drugs and committing all sorts of atrocities in the area,” he lamented.
Governor Zulum announced that the state government had set up a high-powered committee tasked with identifying and shutting down drug centres across Borno State.
He added that structures harbouring illicit drug activities would be demolished, and perpetrators arrested and prosecuted.
“The government will not fold its arms while criminals endanger lives. All joints where marijuana (Indian hemp) and other illegal drugs are sold will be dismantled, and perpetrators will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Borno State House of Assembly would on Tuesday review and strengthen the state’s sanitation law.
“The revised law will empower law enforcement agencies to arrest offenders without a warrant and ensure its enforcement across all 27 local government areas of the state.
“We must act swiftly to prevent further occurrences. The safety and stability of our communities remain our top priority,” Zulum added.
Governor Zulum also warned that some of the drug operators previously dislodged from Maiduguri Metropolitan Council have now relocated to rural areas like Konduga, where they continue their activities unchecked.
He assured that the new law will be enforced statewide to uproot all such criminal activities and restore lasting peace in Borno.
