The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has disclosed that at least 400,000 residents of Enugu State are into drug abuse. 

The statement was made by Mr John Ada-Ogah, Deputy State Commander, Operation and Intelligence. 

Ada-Ogah, who made the disclosure during an Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign, in collaboration with the MTN Foundation, identified cannabis and Meth, popularly known as mkpurummiri, as the most abused drugs in the state. 

He said the Agency, through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), had reached out to about 135 places, including schools, religious organizations, and work places.

He also said that drug abuse was in the increase in the state, adding “that is why we decided to delve into this campaign.”

He said the drug integrity test carried out by the Agency showed that at least 400,000 residents of the State were into drug abuse. 

“This year, we have gotten about over 400,000 people involved in drug abuse in Enugu state,” he said, adding that, “the youths were the most prevalent age bracket involved”.

On the factors pushing the abusers, he identified peer group pressures, pointing out that “they have the curiosity to know what is involved in these drugs.

“The one that is mostly available here, the street name is ‘Igbo’, which is cannabis, then marijuana, and the most worrying type is meth, mkpurummiri, many people are taking it now, and they are going mad on the streets.”

He lauded the collaboration between the Agency and the MTN Foundation, urging all other Nigerians to join in the fight against the menace.