Cross River: NDLEA Raises The Alarm Over Surge In Cases Of Drug Abuse
…As NDSUG Flags Off Campaign against Social Vices In Campuses
By Uket Oka, Calabar
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has expressed concern over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse in Cross River State, South South, Nigeria.
The Deputy Commander of Narcotics in-charge of Drug Demand Reduction Department of the NDLEA in Cross River State, DCN Nandi Roseline Ada, made this known Friday while speaking with journalists at the flag off of the campaign against cybercrime and other social vices organised by the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NDSUG) in Calabar, the State capital.
Ada stressed that, “the number of drug users is on the increase in Cross River State and it is increasing on daily basis.”
“We have so much concern because of what is going on in Cross River State.
Recently, when you go to the streets of Calabar, you see a lot of young men and women who are running mad. It is not just hereditary madness; but most of the cases of this madness we have on the streets are as a result of drug abuse,” she stated.
The NDLEA Deputy Commander, Narcotics further noted that a visit to the Drug Ward of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Calabar would show that the ward is usually filled to the brim everyday to the point that they reject some patients on the guise that they lack spaces for people with mild cases.
“There is no drug case that is mild. You won’t know the trend of drug abuse until you have somebody who is involved in drug abuse,” she hinted, lamenting that drug abuse affects everyone either directly or indirectly.
Ada also attributed the rising incidence of cultism, prostitution, kidnapping, rape and all other forms of crimes in the society to drug abuse.
“This young people will first of all settle themselves somewhere and soak themselves well enough with this drug of abuse before they go into this crime,” the NDLEA boss explained.
Also speaking, Special Assistant to the Governor of Cross River State on Student Affairs, Mr Joseph Kelvin Eyam, who represented the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, reiterated the government’s strong stance against cybercrime.
“I am here on behalf of the Acting Governor to reaffirm that our government stands firmly against cybercrime.
“Cybercrime is illegal, both globally and locally. It goes against ethics, morality, and the law. Government is working tirelessly to provide alternative opportunities for young people. Our government is primarily focusing on the people, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all,” Eyam stated.
He called on the youths in the state not to sit back, but to explore the various opportunities created by the “People First” administration of Governor Bassey Otu in the State to improve their lives.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that we engage these youths at different levels and grant them opportunities across board,” the representative of the Acting Governor further said.
He advised youths who are still into cybercrime and other social vices to desist from the acts, stressing that it would not better their lives, but rather ruin their future.
Earlier, the National President of the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NDSUG), Comrade Scott Ogunseri, said the flag off of the campaign entitled: “Walk against cybercrime and Other Social Vices and Campus Tour,” was their initiative aimed at contributing to the fight against cybercrimes and other social vices in the nine Niger Delta States and the country.
“We are in Calabar to do a walk to tell students and youths that they should shun social vices.
“One of my dreams as a student leader is to see students of the Niger Delta be of good character as a prerequisite for the award of certificates at the end of their studies,” Ogunseri said.
He added that the initiative would help them to constantly remind the students to shun social vices, “because after school, there is life”.
The National President of NDSUG noted that after the walk there would be inauguration of ambassadors who would take the campaigns further to their respective universities, polytechnics and colleges across the State.
“When we are done with Cross River, we are going to make sure we hit the entire nine states of the Niger Delta before we think about Nigeria at large, because our students are all over the country,” Ogunseri noted.
