… As NAFDAC warns against consumption, distribution of US infant formulas***
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 110 drug dealers in nine states across the country, following a raid and dismantling of their hideouts.
The NDLEA also seized assorted illicit substances.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi and issued to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
He said that drug joints in Maza Maza, Alakija, Festac town, Amuwo Odofin, Oluti, Isheri roundabout and the Igando areas of Lagos State were raided on Oct. 7.
He noted that not less than 16 suspects were arrested.
The director listed them as Lucky Elibe, Abdullahi Jabir, Amos Kalli, Nweke ThankGod, Tukwosi Arowolu and Odinaka Oramu.
Others are Jeremiah Ishaya, Maxwell John, Usman Garba, Christian Okibe, Mba Peter, Sarah Offiri, Wasiu Adeniji, Bode Olaitan, Yetunde Ahmed and Abdullahi Jibril.
Also read: Drug Abuse: Lagos Assembly assures NDLEA of support
“Seven others were equally arrested in different locations in Lekki area of the state.
“They include one Emmanuel Sunday, Buhari Ibrahim, Kudus Taiwa, Samuel Jeremiah, Adebayo Adams, Joshua Madube and MaryJane Nweke.
“While one Okoropo Mathew was arrested in the Obalende area of the state, four others, Sulaiman Hammadu, Olalekan Abiodun, Lukman Kamarudeen and Toyeeb Isa were nabbed in the Agege area,” he stated.
Babafemi said that 17 other suspects arrested by men of the 149 Battalion (Rear), Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo, in Lagos, were also transfered to the agency for further investigation.
He noted that the seized from the suspects were various quantities of cocaine, heroin, tramadol, methamphetamine, diazepam, cannabis and other psychoactive substances.
“In Benue, the arrest of a 19-year-old female drug dealer, Mngunengen Achir with 5.5kg Cannabis and 112grams of Diazepam on Wednesday, Oct. 6, in Aliade area of the state took a disturbing twist.
“Other members of her cartel abducted a retired NDLEA personnel from that community, who they assumed, was still a serving officer.
“They took him to a forest and demanded for the release of the suspect in their custody, before he would be freed. However, investigation is still ongoing, ” he said.
Bababfemi said noted that the raid of the house of a drug kingpin in Ruga area of Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa led to the recovery of 30 bags of cannabis weighing 362.5kg.
He added that three male suspects were arrested on Oct. 6, during a raid of some drug joints in the Oron area of Akwa Ibom with more than 25 kilograms of drugs seized.
“In Ondo, drug dealer at Ogbani-Oja Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Adedugba Adeyemi, also known as Oyinbo, was arrested in his fortified den.
“Various quantities of cocaine, heroin and skunk were also recovered there.
“Seven other suspects were arrested in some drug joints in other parts of the state, including Shasha market, Akure North Local Government Area, Asolo camp, Usho, Owo Local Government Area, Albert Link Street, Finger Licking hotel and Shittu street, all in Akure, the state capital.
“In Kano, one Shamsuddeen Muhammad was arrested with 21.6kg cannabis, well concealed inside empty cartons, while in Oyo state, no fewer than 12 persons were arrested at drug joints raided and dismantled across the state,” he said.
He identified some of the destroyed black spots as Alfa area, Sabo motor park, Idisin Ijeru area, Odo Oba, Gambari in Oyo area and the Igboro joint in Saki town and many others.
“In Kwara, no fewer than 38 suspects were arrested and 29.585kg of assorted drugs including Cocaine, Meth, Tramadol, Diazepam and others, were recovered across seven drug joints in Lafiagi.
” In Rivers, at least three persons were arrested from drug joints in Oyigbo and Kara Oil Mill areas of the state on Saturday, Oct. 9, ” he said.
In a related development, Babafemi noted that more than 5kg of methamphetamine and cannabis heading to Australia, Pakistan, South Korea and Hong Kong had been intercepted.
According to him, the items are concealed in the soles of ladies shoes, body cream and auto spare parts.
Bababfemi noted that they were intercepted in four courier firms in Lagos by narcotic officers in the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations of the agency.
He quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the nine state commands for taking the battle to the doorsteps of the drug cartels, within the communities and in the forests.
He said that their contributions toward saving the lives of innocent youths, women and adults from the “merchants of death” would never be forgotten.
The NDLEA boss further charged the officers and their colleagues in other commands to remain resilient as they continued with the offensive action against the narco-syndicates.
In another development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to stop consuming and distributing infant formulas manufactured by Able Groupe, a US based company.
The infant formulas from the company were said to have insufficient iron levels and did not meet up with other requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA).
A statement issued by the NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, disclosed that the agency had received information from the US-FDA on the recall of certain infant Formulas.
She said that the recalled products were sold under the brand names HiPP, Holle, Bioland and Kendamil, adding that they were recalled because the required pre-market notifications for these new infant formulas had not been submitted to the FDA.
Adeyeye identified the Able Groupe’s products, to include HiPP comfort milk formula, HiPP Dutch stage 1 combiotic Infant milk formula, HiPP HA Germany hypoallergenic stage pre combiotic infant milk formula.
Also, Holle Bio Stage 1 organic infant milk formula, Holle Bio stage pre organic infant milk formula, Lebenswert Anfangsmilch stage 1 organic infant milk formula, and HiPP UK stage 1 Combiotic first infant milk formula.
She said that the products contained less than one milligram of iron per 100 calories, and that the eight infant formula product labels failed to have the required ingredient, including not being labelled as required by Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (21 CFR 107.10 and 107.20).
Adeyeye said that the recalled products were intended as a complete or partial substitute for human milk for children aged 12 months and below, but by containing less than one milligram (1mg) of iron per 100 calories may not provide adequate iron for some infants, particularly infants born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
Similarly, they may also not be suitable for those who have low iron levels at birth, or those who are at risk for becoming iron deficient due to illness.
She explained that inadequate intake of iron at infancy may lead to anaemia, iron deficiency which, if untreated, has irreversible cognitive and functional development outcomes.
“Infant formula products that contain less than one milligram of iron per 100 calories are required to include a statement on the label indicating that additional iron may be necessary.
“NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and consumers, who have these products in storage to stop distribution, sale and use of these recalled products.
“NAFDAC encourages consumers and health care professionals to report adverse events related to the use of these recalled products to the nearest NAFDAC office,” she said.
The public are also advised to report any issue relating to these infant formulas to NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 TOLLS FREE from all networks) or via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or NAFDAC Med Safety Mobile App.
