NUMBER OF YOUTHS IN OUR CUSTODY UNDERGOING REHABILITATION FROM DRUG ABUSE, WORRISOME — NDLEA

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has expressed concern about the increasing wave of drug abuse among youths in Imo State.

The Deputy Commander Operations and Intelligence in the agency, Mr. Kayode Raji, made this known during an interactive program on “Understanding the Freedom of Information Act, Curbing the increasing Wave of Rape/ Gender Violence and Drug Abuse” organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state.

The aim of the forum was to find ways of collaboration between the NOA and other stakeholders in addressing social vices in the state.

Mr. Raji said with regret that NDLEA in the state had worrisome number of youths in its custody undergoing rehabilitation from misuse of drugs and consumption of banned substances at the moment.

He pointed out that the Agency had stepped up sensitization to the health hazards posed by drug abuse and its social implications, noting that the NOA remained a partner in the fight against illicit drugs.

The State Director, NOA, Mr. Vitus Ekeocha, identified ignorance as a major challenge to the fight against rape, gender based violence and drug abuse, noting that Agency was poised to working closely with other stakeholders in ridding the society of those ugly trend.
   
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, Mr. Declan Emelumba, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mr. Kennedy Amanze, stressed the need for transparency in government, pointing out that  citizens should at all times get acquainted with facts.

He said the state government was desirous of finding ways of curbing drug abuse, rape and gender-based violence.

The representative of the National Council of Women Societies in the state, Mrs. Chizoba Okafor, called for the speedy passage of the Violence against Persons Prohibition Bill currently before the legislature to guarantee the rights of women.

She said more than one hundred and forty cases of rape were reported in Imo during the COVID-19 lock down and appealed to traditional rulers to support the course of women.

In a paper, which focused on Freedom of Information Act, a Dputy Director in the NOA, Mr. Nazzy Njoku, called on states yet to domesticate the act to do so while laws conflicting with the FOI Act should be repealed to ensure its smooth operation.