Emir Of Daura Urges National Assembly To Prescribe Death Penalty For Drug Traffickers

Firdaus Obiremi

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruq Umar-Faruk, has called on the National Assembly to enact legislation prescribing the death penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking in hard drugs, describing the menace as a serious threat to the future of Northern Nigeria and the country at large.

The monarch made the call on Tuesday during a town hall meeting organised by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in Daura, Katsina State.

The meeting was organised to sensitise residents to the dangers of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and domestic violence.

Umar-Faruk urged lawmakers to review existing legislation and introduce stiffer punishments to discourage drug trafficking and address what he described as a growing social menace.

Addressing the Speaker, the Emir said, “I want you to convey my message to my son, Tajudeen Abbas, to collaborate with the Senate and enact a law prescribing the death penalty for anyone convicted of drug trafficking.”

He also pledged his continued support for initiatives aimed at eliminating drug abuse and trafficking, stressing that tackling the problem was crucial to safeguarding the future of young people and ensuring national development.

Earlier, the Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, David Akoji, expressed appreciation to the Emir for receiving the agency and supporting its public enlightenment campaign.

Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with traditional institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders to combat drug abuse and other social vices through sustained sensitisation and community engagement.

Also speaking, the Katsina State Director of NOA, Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim-Malumfashi, said the state was selected to host the programme because available statistics indicated a high prevalence of drug-related challenges in the North-West.

He explained that the town hall meeting was designed to mobilise communities and relevant stakeholders towards confronting the problem through collective action, awareness creation and sustained public enlightenment.

The event attracted government officials, traditional and religious leaders, personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, civil society organisations, community representatives and other stakeholders.

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