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Drug Abuse: Enugu Govt. expands mental health services, access to prevention, treatment programmes

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Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says his administration is currently strengthening and expanding mental health services as well as access to prevention and treatment programmes in its four-tier health systems.

Mbah said this in a keynote address at the weekend during the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Enugu State Command.

The commemoration was themed: “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Response”.

Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, the governor also revealed that special adolescent health units were also being established in health facilities as part of efforts to address drug abuse among young people.

He described drug abuse as both a public health and security challenge, with devastating effects on individuals, families, and society; adding that government was also focusing on promoting mental health well-being education.

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Mbah emphasised the need for innovative, evidence-based, and collaborative strategies to address the growing drug abuse challenge.

The governor urged young people to reject drug abuse, while encouraging parents to play active roles in prevention.

According to him, the state government will continue to collaborate with the NDLEA and other stakeholders to build a safer, healthier, and drug-free Enugu State.

Mbah urged youths to take advantage of the numerous socioeconomic opportunities created by the state government.

He noted that opportunities had been opened up in agriculture, digital technology and mechanised farming to empower youths and discourage involvement in drug abuse.

“We cannot build a resilient and striving economy with youths who are not hardworking. It is with your brains and physical strength that our economy can grow.

“The consequences of drug abuse are enormous and we must ensure our youths remain productive and contribute meaningfully to economic development, through physical and mental well-being,” he said.

Earlier, the Commander of NDLEA in Enugu State, Mr Owoputi Adekunle, revealed that the agency seized 929.463 kilogrammes of various illicit substances and secured the conviction of 53 drug-related dealers in the state.

Adekunle said that various illicit drugs, which included: Cannabis Sativa and methamphetamine, popularly known as Crystal Meth or “Mkpuru Mmiri,” were seized between November 2025 and June 2026.

He said that within the period under review, the command also counselled 157 clients, while 23 others were currently undergoing rehabilitation.

“Our prosecution unit is not left out. A total of 53 suspects have been convicted, while 111 cases are currently pending before the Federal High Court.

“Apart from the convictions, assets acquired as proceeds of crime were forfeited to the Federal Government,” he said.

Delivering a keynote lecture, Dr Roland Okereke, a Senior Registrar at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, described substance abuse as a “chronic illness” that destroys lives and limited future opportunities.

Okereke stressed that prevention remained the most effective strategy, noting that many people with substance use disorders delayed seeking medical care due to stigma and poor access to treatment.

Speaking, Chairman of Ezeagu Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Emmanuel Anichebe, urged parents to build closer relationships with their children to enable them share their challenges and receive proper guidance before being influenced negatively by unscrupulous peers.

Highpoints of the event were the crowning of Gov. Mbah as a Drug Abuse Ambassador; drama presentations and debates among others.

The event attracted traditional rulers, representatives of security agencies, officials of the Ministry of Health, officials of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), NYSC corps members and youth organizations in the state.

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Police arrest three Anambra women over alleged sale of child for ₦2 million

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The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women for their alleged involvement in child trafficking and the sale of a four-year-old boy for N2m.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters at a motor park in Onitsha.

Ikenga alleged that the suspects belonged to a child trafficking syndicate that specialised in trafficking children and selling them to buyers for various sums of money.

According to him, the suspects were arrested during a raid on their hideouts on Saturday evening, while other members of the syndicate escaped. He added that some children were rescued during the operation.

The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command, on the evening of July 11, recorded another breakthrough in its sustained fight against child trafficking with the arrest of three female suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, at a motor park in Onitsha by police operatives attached to Awada Divisional Headquarters.

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“Preliminary information revealed how Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children, a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child, on two separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah.

“Chinasa further disclosed that the four-year-old child was subsequently handed over to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for the sum of N2 million, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman, who is currently at large.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity and directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.

“The CP has also ordered operatives to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend every member of the trafficking syndicate and to commence coordinated operations aimed at locating, rescuing, and reuniting the trafficked children with their biological families.

“The Command appreciates members of the public whose timely and credible information led to the successful operation and urges residents to continue supporting the police with useful intelligence,” the statement added.

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Soldiers intercept illicit drugs on Lagos-Calabar road, arrest driver

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Troops of the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and arrested its driver.

The interception followed an intelligence-led operation conducted on July 9, 2026, after troops received actionable intelligence from a credible source.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lt. Col. Musa Yahaya.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit consignment was being transported to the Berger general area of Lagos State.

“However, the suspect could not provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership or intended recipient of the drugs,” the statement read.

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It added, “In line with established procedures, the suspect and the recovered illicit drugs were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, for further investigation and prosecution.”

The handover was carried out by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lt. Col. S. Adeojo.

Commending the troops, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Maj. Gen. Adebayo Babalola, praised their vigilance, professionalism and operational effectiveness.

He urged them to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny drug traffickers and other criminal elements freedom of action within the division’s area of responsibility.

The Army said the operation underscored its continued collaboration with relevant security agencies in tackling drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

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Three brothers charged with murder after beating mother’s boyfriend to death

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Three brothers have been charged with murder in Eswatini after allegedly beating their mother’s boyfriend to death over claims that he was involved in a romantic relationship with her.

The accused — Mlondi Mbuli, 25, Sakhelwe Mbuli, 18, and Lindani Mdziniso, 23 — appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court in connection with the killing, which reportedly occurred on June 28, 2026, in Hholoshini, located in the country’s Hhohho Region.

During the hearing, Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati ordered that the three men remain in custody until July 10, 2026, while prosecutors prepare to transfer the case to the High Court, where murder cases are typically tried.

According to investigators, the suspects allegedly attacked the victim, identified as Njabulo Ngwenya, using bricks, stones, sticks, punches and repeated kicks, inflicting injuries that proved fatal.

Police believe the alleged assault stemmed from accusations that Ngwenya was having an affair with the
brothers’ biological mother.

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The incident came to the attention of authorities after Sibongile Motsa reported finding her son dead inside her sister’s home in the early hours of June 28.

Court documents state that Motsa discovered Ngwenya’s body at about 1 a.m. before notifying the Royal Eswatini Police Service, which subsequently launched an investigation and arrested the three suspects.

Following their first court appearance, the accused were remanded in custody pending the next hearing and the formal transfer of the matter to the High Court.

Authorities have not disclosed additional information beyond the facts presented during the initial court proceedings.

The case has drawn widespread public interest across Eswatini as investigations continue.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland before Mswati III officially renamed the country in 2018, is a landlocked nation in southern Africa bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Under the country’s judicial system, serious criminal offences such as murder are generally transferred from the Magistrates Court to the High Court after the initial hearing.

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