.. As group describes NDLEA reaction as slap on Buhari Govt. anti-corruption

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has lampooned the group called Concerned Officers over their worn-out allegations against the chairman of the Agency, retired Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah.

The NDLEA while calling the attention of the Media to what it described as the nefarious activities of the group of individuals, noted that they are fronting for some drug syndicates who are sponsoring unfounded allegations of wrong doings to blackmail the leadership of the Agency. 

The Agency in a statement signed by its principal staff officer, Public Affairs, Jonah Achema, ACN noted that these individuals go by the name “Concerned NDLEA Officers”, using one pseudo name Musa Ahmed Yusuf to circulate petitions against the chairman/chief executive and directors of the agency.
“This is a panic device by the men of the underworld who are troubled by the unprecedented counter-narcotic strategies being put in place by the chairman/chief executive.

The Media should not allow itself to be misled by the well rehashed and recycled petition by these desperate individuals who keep changing the date of the petition that they have been circulating for months. Some months back, the Agency had painstakingly responded to all the so-called issues raised in a well publicised press release.

The Agency is, however, delighted that some credible media organisations have rebuffed entreaties of these unscrupulous elements by insisting that the petitions be supported with facts, which they have been unable to provide. This explains why the blackmailers have resorted to the social media. It is a well known doctrine in Law that he who alleges must prove. It is not enough to be brandishing allegations without any shred of evidence. Doing so, which has been the stock in trade of this set of individuals only amounts to wishful thinking and sheer media orchestration against the Agency. Do the petitioners need to be told where to direct their petitions? There are many anti-graft agencies in the country and we challenge them to do so. NDLEA’s internal control mechanism against any misconduct by its officers has never been faulted.” Achema explained.

He explained further that the: “Agency finds it unimaginable that some persons could be as mischievous and inhuman as to politicise and trivialize the unfortunate death of officers by attributing such deaths to frustration arising from the mismanagement of the Agency. It is illogical to claim that longevity of a worker is solely determined by the working condition of the organisation. While efforts are on going to improve the working condition of the Agency, NDLEA’s working condition is at par with those of other security agencies in the country. The same health policy that applies to all government organisations is enjoyed by the Agency. Besides, the facilities of Military Hospitals are at the disposal of NDLEA officers. The petitioners have failed to realize that the average life expectancy in the country is about 50 years and an average officer that has put in 27 years should be within the threshold of the country’s life expectancy”.

Achema said for the avoidance of doubt, virtually all the late officers listed by the agitators died of natural causes mostly from ailments that have no correlation with the work environment.
According to him: “A few others died of motor accidents. Only three of the officers were killed by assailants in October 2017 in Kogi State, suggesting that the Agency is getting increasingly professional in the discharge of its duties. The list of deceased officers being paraded by these mischief makers is a presentation made by the Agency to the relevant authorities in pursuit of the late officers’ benefits. 

The death of any single officer has remained a great source of grief to the Agency which calls for solemnization. It is out of concern that the Agency has for any of its deceased officers that it instituted a fund as a stop-gap to assist the family of the deceased pending the maturation of their terminal benefits.
Contrary to claims that the Agency’s international collaborators are displeased with the present management, the Agency has continued to enjoy robust training and logistic support and exchange of intelligence from the international partners”.

Achema pointed out that efforts made by the chairman/chief executive to improve the working conditions of the Agency are well documented and are eliciting the right attention from appropriate authorities. 

He assured the general public that Col. Abdallah, schooled in the art of symmetric and asymmetric warfare is cut out for the job and will in no distant time drive underground all the unrepentant drug merchants.

Meanwhile, the Concerned Officers group has described the agency’s reaction to their allegations of incompetence and insensitivity against the chairman of the NDLEA to the plight of officers as a slap on the Buhari led government and anti-corruption agencies in the country. 

The Concerned Officers group in their statement explained that: “On the 3rd of January 2018, armed bandits shot and killed Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Tanko Amfani Ribah in Kano during an operation. This brings the total number of officers that have died under Abdallah to fifty-nine in two years. It is an insult to our sensibilities for Abdallah to sermonize on life expectancy after neglecting the welfare of officers. We are concerned because of the disturbing number of casualties and the lack of payment to the families of the late officers.

“We are equally worried because of the amount of money Abdallah has spent on injudicious foreign travels when no payment has been made to the fallen heroes. We dare Abdallah to show proof of payment to the families of these fallen heroes. Besides, the worrisome deaths of our fellow officers without soccour, we are three ranks below our normal ranks. How can Abdallah call the legitimate demand for justice as blackmail? How can you describe valid allegations as worn-out? It is wrong to beat a child and expect the child not to cry. Under normal circumstances, Abdallah ought to be in jail for financial impropriety and administrative nonchalance”.

They concluded their statement by querying if: “Abdallah will deny the fact that officers have been stagnated in one rank? Can Abdallah deny the total blackout at the Ikoyi Lagos office of the Agency in the past two years? Can Abdallah deny the non-payment of imprest to commanders since he assumed office? Can Abdallah deny the escalating cases of drug trafficking and abuse in the country since he assumed office? Can Abdallah deny that the names of late officers in the past two years are false? Why has he not told us how many foreign trips he has made in two years? What then is blackmail? Why did Abdallah fail to provide life insurance policy and intensive medical care for officers? Why did he fail to regularize promotion? We call on the relevant Agencies of government to come to our rescue. Until there is justice, we shall not relent in pushing forward our valid demands”.