Security man, students arrested with cocaine in Abia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Abia state Command, has nabbed a 29-year-old security man, Saidu Iliayasu, for being caught with Indian hemp.

The suspect was arrested during a raid in Uturu, at Maranatha private hostel in the state University after two students of the University were reportedly beheaded by cultists.

The State Commander of the agency, Mr. Bamidele Akingbade, said his arrest confirmed the speculation that student cultists operated under the influence of ‘Psycho tropic drugs.’

“They were caught at various venues in the state with psycho-tropic substances weighing a total of about 14.23 kilograms.

“Iliayasu was arrested with hemp worth over N5000 which he peddles alongside his security job.

“He was among six other drug users and peddlers arrested in several locations,” the Commander said, while parading the suspects before newsmen in Aba at the agency’s headquarters.

According to the NDLEA chief, the suspects included: Uzochukwu Nnanna,35, Kingsley Ugwubueze 31, Agbaeze Kalu,40, Saidu Iliyasu, 29, Solution Kingsley, 22, Ikechukwu Nwankpa, 31, and Ugochukwu Nwachukwu, 22.

Nwankpa, one of the suspects paraded, told newsmen he took drugs ‘as an energizer to carry out his wheel barrow pushing business whenever he finds himself worn out and unable to work further.

Meanwhile, most of the suspects claimed the current economic hardship led them into drug peddling.

The Commander added investigations were going on to fish others out.

He said the suspects were found to be in possession of psychotropic substances like Cocaine, Heroin and Indian hemp at the time of their arrests.

“Once investigations are over, they would be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Umuahia, the state capital this April,” Akingbade added.

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