The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has attributed the rising prevalence of drug abuse among students and youths in Malete to the proliferation of club houses around Kwara State University, warning that enforcement operations will follow immediately after Tuesday's sensitisation exercise.

Kwara State NDLEA Commander, Fatima Popoola, speaking at a sensitisation programme organised jointly with the university, disclosed that the agency had recorded repeated arrests linked to the abuse of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, in the community. "We have been making repeated arrests involving the abuse of laughing gas in Malete town, and this is very heartbreaking. In fact, one suspect was arrested behind a hostel located outside the school premises," she stated.

Popoola also accused some landlords and house agents of inadvertently enabling drug trafficking by renting apartments in student hostels to non students who use the premises as distribution points. "Some individuals deliberately rent rooms inside student hostels just to sell drugs. We have carried out several operations in different hostels across Malete and arrested many drug dealers. When a drug dealer lives among students, there is a greater tendency for those who have never used drugs to be tempted because the substances are readily available at their doorstep," she said.

The commander revealed that arrested students involved in drug dealing, including female students, often claimed they entered the trade to fund their education. She urged house agents to exercise greater vigilance in screening tenants. "Tell the house agents that we are monitoring them closely. They should stop allocating rooms in student hostels to people who are not students because many of them rent such apartments to sell drugs to students, in addition to those operating around the clubs," Popoola warned.

She commended KWASU for being the first tertiary institution in Kwara State where the agency conducted drug integrity tests, adding that the initiative had since been extended to other institutions. The NDLEA also announced approval to establish a permanent operational office in Malete to strengthen surveillance.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Luqman Jimoh, reaffirmed the university's zero tolerance stance. "At Kwara State University, we maintain zero tolerance for drug abuse and every other form of social vice. We are committed to providing a safe and conducive learning environment where discipline, integrity and responsible conduct are upheld," he said, warning that disciplinary procedures would be invoked against any culpable student.