A group called Better, Brighter Nigeria and Societal Enlightenment has condemned the burning of 1,850 seized drugs said to be Indian Hemp.
A statement signed by Muyiwa Jacob Olatunji, Executive Director, of the group on Tuesday evening condemned the action of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, saying “without tendering Exhibits in Court and showing the actual content to the public of what it actually seized in Ikorodu, Lagos, two weeks ago,” burnt the much celebrated things the agency alleged to be cocaine.
The group said “many have said is SK Indian hemp package in this form normally brought in mass quantities through Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki water from Ghana to Nigeria.
The group accused the NDLEA of rushing “to burn the exhibits without showing anybody because they know it’s not Cocaine but SK Indian hemp which is sold for 5k naira per package not Cocaine that is millions of Naira per single package.
“The NDLEA had seized what it called the biggest Cocaine recovery in Nigeria without showing to the public as usual if it was cocaine or not. It refused journalists to interview the paraded Suspects to corroborate what the Agency was saying it recovered.
“Normally In such type of Press Briefing done by NDLEA 2 weeks ago, if it’s Genuine some Packages will be picked at Random from the alleged 1,850 pieces and it will be opened for the journalists and members of the public to see.
“Since then, the NDLEA has not said anything. The Journalists did not know the actual content of what the Agency seized. They were also not allowed to openly interview the alleged suspects,” the statement said.
It added that, “Instead, the NDLEA gathered over 200 tires to burn the alleged cocaine. The Group understands that by using many tires to burn the alleged cocaine, it is to ensure that the stench from the SK Indian hemp is not perceived by the people.
“We make bold to state strongly that our internal investigation uncovered deliberate lies from the NDLEA. What was actually seized was not cocaine but SK Indian Hemp, packaged and sent to Nigeria from Ghana through the Ikorodu water ways.
“We state that, for the fact that NDLEA who is always in the media in desperation to show everything to the press and public refused to open any of the alleged 1,850 packages it said it seized from the alleged suspects during a press briefing where suspects and Exhibits are paraded is a confirmation that its a deliberate act of deception to hoodwink members of the public that it’s working.
“As partners in the war against drugs, we have been monitoring NDLEA’s activities and it’s been disappointing. No real war on drugs is taking place.
“A situation where the Agency rushes to the media to show what it has seized without showing the public the content, an Agency that is always in the media with exaggerated and false news of arrest of Suspects and recoveries, While hobnobbing and collecting Billions of Naira from big Drug Barons and arresting ONLY those that are not cooperating.”
Continuing it noted that, “Need we say the latest development is a set back for the war against drugs. The NDLEA cannot seize hard drugs and burn them without tendering the same before the court or Showing its content to the public during her press briefing.
“In any case, what would the NDLEA use as an exhibit in court since the packages have been burnt in haste to prevent investigators from the National Assembly and other bodies because a lot of questions are being raised about the way NDLEA is hiding the truth from Nigerians.
“The burning of the SK Indian Hemp that is called “Bible style” Packaging ( street name) because of the way it is packaged is disappointing in the least.
“Buba Marwa must come clean on this. He must prove to Nigerians why rushing and burning these stuff without tendering in Court and public the actual content.
“There is never a time in the history of the world that Such drugs are recovered and are completely hidden from the public and journalists and subsequently burnt quickly without tendering in Court during prosecution and opening some packages for people to see and believe what the Agency is saying.
“Since the Suspects arrested are alive and still in custody, the National Assembly should immediately investigate and know what NDLEA actually seized. Interview of the suspects arrested by an independent body can shed light on this deception and end these continuous deception and Falsehood from NDLEA.
“Except that NDLEA no longer knows what cocaine is and what Indian Hemp is, otherwise the Agency under Marwa must come clean and tell the world this gross attempt to manipulate the public and set the war on drug backwards.
“While we will continue to support the NDLEA and other security Agencies and collaborate with it in the war against hard drugs and other Crimes, we must also call for transparency and accountability in the management of the fight on Drugs and crimes.
“We can’t allow such monumental deception to Successfully executed before our eyes against Nigerians,” the statement said.
