Two Nigerians were arrested in Kano recently while swallowing cocaine to be trafficked to Sudan enroute Saudi Arabia.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commander, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, told journalists that the suspects had 2.927 kilogrammes of the hard drug during their arrest in a hotel along Katsina Road in the city.
The arrest is disturbing, coming just a few weeks after the execution of a female Nigerian, Kudirat Afolabi, in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.
Soon after Afolabi was executed, another Nigerian female, Somide Wahid, was arrested at the Jeddah International Airport with hard drug.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa had also released a list of 23 other convicted Nigerians, awaiting execution in the Arabian country.
That some Nigerians are still treading the same suicidal path despite the recent shocking reports, arrests and executions as well as past experiences calls for serious concern.
It is quite well-known that Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and a few other countries have zero-tolerance for drug trafficking. Those arrested and convicted of drugs possession in those countries are executed without considering diplomatic interventions by the Nigerian government.
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In response to the execution of Afolabi, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Nigeria had issued a statement, saying, “It is well known to all those interested in traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the penalty for drug trafficking is the death sentence and it is applied on all persons convicted without exception, as long as the evidence is established against them, and this is conveyed to every person prior to his trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Nigerians who hide under the pretext of religious pilgrimage to traffick in illicit drugs risk losing their lives for their folly. For these unscrupulous citizens to believe that other countries condone the same laxity and corruption, as the law enforcement agencies and judicial system back home is the height of foolishness.
The recent incidents of arrests, convictions and executions must serve as a wakeup call for government agencies to be more alive to their duty of preventing importation and exportation of hard drugs through the Nigerian borders.
Beyond the futile plea for pardon for convicted Nigerians, the government must investigate airports where any Nigerian caught abroad with drugs passed through for possible official collusion.
The desire to get rich fast is driving the youths’ involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal acts, which dent the image of the country.
Corruption and illicit acquisitions by politicians and government officials also fuel the despicable acts. Nigerians who have no access to public funds to loot turn to the most dangerous route in pursuit of wealth.
Unfortunately, religion and family value systems have failed to curb such tendencies.
Government must fashion creative means of keeping Nigerian youths gainfully employed, to discourage them from suicidal exploits.
Government must also constantly invest in the reorientation of the youths to imbibe positive values of hard work, discipline, patriotism and fear of God.
