Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has set up a panel to investigate a music video released by Nigerian artiste, Davido, in which he displayed a substance suspected to be hard drugs.
The video of his track entitled, ‘Fans mi’, in which he featured an American rapper and member of the Maybach Group, Meek Mill, showed Davido with a briefcase filled with dollars and another bag filled with parcels of a substance suspected to be hard drugs.
The Director of Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said on Saturday that the investigative panel might invite the hip-hop artiste for questioning if the need arose.
He said, “I am aware that a panel is working on it (the video). The panel was set up soon after the video was released few weeks ago.
“When our attention was drawn to it, we viewed it and we discovered that it was improper. There is no moral lesson in it and he was just advertising drug trafficking.
“In the video, he exchanged a brief case supposedly containing narcotics for dollars. He was displaying affluence in the video. If it (the plot) had climaxed in an arrest and possible detention, we would have congratulated him for partnering with us. But the way he portrayed drug trafficking in the video was a means to an end, which the end is a life of affluence which we disagree with.”
Ofoyeju said the anti-drug agency would conduct a full-scale investigation into the making of the video and to confirm whether it was censored before its release.
The NDLEA spokesperson further said, “We are looking at the issue holistically. We believe that there should be a body that was supposed to censor videos before they go out. Those are the things we want to investigate and verify. Was the video submitted for approval? If it was submitted, why was it approved, with such content?”
NDLEA had in June 2013 said controversial Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh, risked a minimum of 15 years in jail for encouraging the consumption of hemp.
Dikeh had on June 28, 2013, posted photographs of a wrap of hemp and grains of the weed formed into the letters, ‘Happy birthday POKO.’
She also posted a photograph of herself and added the inscription, ‘Mi smoke ganja mi smoke weed while my hatez smoke ma gossip.’
Her picture is a close-up of her face that seemed to depict her in a high state.
As a result, the agency said it was keeping tabs on more celebrities in Nollywood and the music industry for drug trafficking, abuse and links with drug cartels.
Hmmmmm,seems it's getting serious,people whats your take on this???
Hmmmmm,seems it's getting serious,people whats your take on this???
NDLEA is looking for cheap popularity
ReplyDeleteRather, NDLEA is doing a great job. These so called celebrities are role models to our youth. Once they have been influenced by these videos/music, we lack the kind of law enforcement to adequately deal with the resultant crime, as in the US for example. Better to nip the problem in the bud. Ali
DeleteI disagree. We should always act with responsibility, and it should not be ok to publicly promote evil. The youth are very gullible.Uche
ReplyDeleteFirst of that video was shoot out of Nigeria which means they lack the jurisdiction. Also, how can they investigate what is classified as a fictional video. There are so many people trafficking drugs and human daily out and into Nigeria in which they can concentrate their resources and time on but they are busy watching music videos and looking at Tontoh Dike's pictures on instagram. Have we forgotten how much they abuse the civil right of one Babasuwe Omidina.
DeleteWe should not condone immoral behaviour, weather the video is fictional or not we should condemn it. What is the purpose of the music? If the music promote criminality it should be banned.
DeleteBuhari, this agency is trying to seek your attention. How many Yibos' home (garage) videos have drugs use in them? EFCC have been in the news lately so NDLEA is also looking for attention. Whatever the case, the DG of NDLEA should be ready to vacant that position, he is so useless, fighting Davido because his child was not included in the video.#somebody
ReplyDeleteEither it was shot in the USA or in the moon, he is a Nigerian musician and some youths see him as a role model. A lot of what the youths exhibit today are from what they watch on videoo. Drug trafficking is a big crime and should not be displayed in any way or under any disguise.......
ReplyDeleteWetin concern agbero with overload,i beeeegi go after the real drug dealers and leave the young man alone
ReplyDeleteAbsolute lack of intelligence among security agents in Nigeria. All NDLEA needs to do is to put the boy under surveillance and when sure he is involved in drugs, obtain a search warrant and get him arrested for trial, pure and simple. In some other clime, the agency will use undercover agent within and outside Nigeria to track the boy down and obtain sufficient evidence in proof of drug possession, promotion and trafficking. The agencies are run like any ministries other with incompetent people, in a saner society people like Marilyn Ogah should not even be near DSS.
ReplyDeleteA statement on responsible behaviours to celebrities would have been enough.. what a shame..
ReplyDeleteGood step and commendable move . Please ensure that the lives of drug traffickers/ barons are not officially commended and recommended by our celebrities
ReplyDelete