In Oke-asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the 75-year-old grandfather Jibril Audu was apprehended with 7.5 kilograms of cannabis, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). In a statement issued on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed this.
Additionally, Babafemi noted that Tikwase Nytor, a 70-year-old grandmother, was arrested with 15.6 kilograms of the same substance in Makurdi, Benue State.
He said: “A 75-year-old grandpa, Jibril Audu, was on Friday, May 10, arrested with 7.5 kilograms of cannabis at Oke-asa village, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State, during a raid operation, while a 70-year-old grandma, Tikwase Nytor, was nabbed with 15.6kg of same substance on Thursday, May 9, during a raid operation at Achusa and International Market road, Makurdi, Benue State’.”
These arrests serve as a reminder of how crucial law enforcement is to stopping and taking down drug trafficking organizations. The arrest of people like Audu and Nytor by the NDLEA acts as a warning to others who might be considering doing the same. It also emphasizes the necessity of a multipronged strategy that tackles the underlying reasons of drug trafficking, such as dearth of resources, low levels of education, and restricted access to gainful jobs.
There’s an urgent need for community-based programs focused on drug prevention and rehabilitation in addition to legal enforcement. Through offering assistance and services to those who are susceptible to drug trafficking, communities can strive to end the vicious cycle of drug abuse and crime. This entails providing access to programs for education and skill development as well as mental health and drug abuse treatment services.
The Audu and Nytor examples demonstrate how critical it is to educate people about the risks associated with drug trafficking, especially seniors who may be more vulnerable to manipulation by criminal groups. Partnerships with neighborhood organizations, educational initiatives, and community outreach projects can assist spread knowledge about the dangers of drug trafficking and provide people the power to make wise decisions.
Jibril Audu and Tikwase Nytor’s arrests serve as a sobering reminder that drug trafficking is a widespread and intricate problem that calls for coordinated efforts from all facets of society to confront. Although the fact that older people are involved in such illegal activities may surprise some, it emphasizes the necessity of all-encompassing measures that address the underlying reasons of drug trafficking and offer assistance to those who are at risk. We cannot hope to stop the drug trade and make communities safer and healthier for everyone unless we work together as a team.
