The Ibadan zonal office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed 16,799 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs seized within Oyo State.

The drugs, which according to the agency had an estimated value N1bn, were set ablaze by the NDLEA in collaboration with the Oyo State Government.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa, said the various drugs, including 16,473kg of cannabis sativa, 4g of cocaine and 326kg of psychotropic substances, were seized from 2017 to October, 2021.

Marwa, who was represented by the Secretary to the agency, Shadrach Haruna, said the drug use prevalence of 14.4 per cent in the country was almost thrice the global average.

He said, "Occasions such as this is an open window for the public to have an insight into what the officers and men of the NDLEA are doing behind the scene.

"What we are here to do today is the tail end of a long-drawn process that started with the gathering of intelligence, followed by interdiction, arrests and prosecutions.

"Public destruction of exhibits is the end of the process. And for the officers and men of the agency, it is a testament that the hard work of the past weeks, months and years are not in vain."

The Oyo State Commander of NDLEA, Abdullahi Saeed, said the command had arrested 153 suspects for various drug offences since January, 2022.

Saeed said the command had also secured 31 convictions since the inception of the year.

The Oyo State Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, said the state would continue to support the agency to ensure it rid all forms of drug abuse.