Her Excellency, the first lady of Kwara State and Matron of Drug Free Clubs in the State, Mrs Omolewa Abdulfatah Ahmed, wife of the Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs Felicia Kishra and the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade were among dignitaries that publicly destroyed a total of 3,450.407kg of forfeited drug exhibits at Ilorin the State capital. The drugs comprising mainly cannabis weighing 3,418.319kg and 32.088kg of psychotropic substances were seized from drug dealers across the State by officers of the NDLEA.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Barrister Anthony Towoju pledged the State government's willingness to join forces with the anti-drug Agency in making the State free from illegal drugs. Barrister Anthony who represented the Governor of Kwara State Abdulfatah Ahmed said that "We know the problem of drugs particularly on our youth population. The State Government will partner with the NDLEA in ensuring that Kwara is free from illegal drugs. I also wish to commend the efforts of the State Command of the Agency".
 
NDLEA Chairman who was represented by the Agency's director of Administration and Finance, Dr. Daniel Ismaila reiterated the commitment of the NDLEA to launch attacks on drug trafficking cartels in the State. In his words, "the Agency is committed to eradicating the production, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs in Kwara State. Drug trafficking is an organized crime that works like a two-edged sword affecting the entire society and must be tackled".
 
The Agency assured the public that it is working towards a drug-free society. "We shall continue to identify and trace cannabis plantations, as well as destroy the illicit plants. Our surveillance mechanisms will also trace hidden warehouses of illicit drugs. We shall not only seize these exhibits, but even the warehouses will not be spared. We shall continue to smoke out the drug dealers from their hideouts and to prosecute them accordingly".
 
The NDLEA Kwara State Commander, Mrs Omotunde Koleosho in her welcome address decried the level of drug abuse in the State. According to her, "drug addicts are daily increasing in number but the command will not rest on her oars. The command discovered and destroyed 3 cannabis farms spreading over 21.8 hectares in Chikanda, Baruteen Local Government Area and Kaiama Local Government Area of the State. A warehouse containing 358 kilogrammes of cannabis was also discovered at Gaa-Odota, Ilorin. These efforts have helped to reduce the quantity of drugs in circulation in the State".
 
Giade noted that while young people were more at risk of drug problem, the challenges of drugs are not limited to city centres. "This exercise today is a clear indication that Local Government Areas, like City centres, are not immune to the devastating effects of illicit drug production, drug trafficking and abuse. As drug control experts, we have observed that young people are more at risk of drug abuse and trafficking today. This is because they are adventurous and would always seek to experiment ‘new' things which their peers introduce to them" he stated.
 
The NDLEA boss added that peer influence has led many youths into the dangerous and devastating past time of abuse of illicit drugs. As a result, a good number of the youths drop out of schools on account of drug addiction while others end up joining violent gangs and ultimately be confined to remand homes and prisons. While elaborating on the implications of narcotics, Giade said that families are also not spared.
 
"When parents get caught with drugs and are in prison custody, the home is disorganized. This leads to broken marriages thus forcing the children to abandon schools and resort to crimes. Apart from the security challenges posed by the misuse and abuse of drugs, Governments are also compelled to expend a lot more resources on providing security – resources that could have been channeled towards much needed development and poverty reduction" Giade explained.
 
The NDLEA Chairman also urged that drug dealers must be exposed because they work against societal progress. According to Giade, "the drug baron you fail to report in your neighbourhood may destroy the lives of others including your children. It is better to prevent the use and abuse of drugs than to seek to fight criminals, who besides amassing illegal wealth from crime, terrorize law abiding citizens daily under the influence of illicit substances".
 
The Agency appealed to the State Government to assist in the provision of operational vehicles for regular patrols around the state. It also requested for radio communications equipment and other logistic support. This it noted will consolidate on the gains of drug control in the State.
 
Present at the public burning were traditional rulers, heads of Military and Paramilitary Agencies as well as public servants and entrepreneurs.