‘Hard drugs consumption, cause of violence, crime in Delta’

A non-Governmental organization, Foundation for Development and Community Engagement, has identified the use of hard drugs amongst youths as the cause of violence and crime in Delta State.
The FDCE has, therefore, advocated intense campaign against the use of hard drugs and other psychotropic substances as veritable tools for curbing violence and crime in the society.
Director of the organisation, Robinson Ariyo, who spoke with our correspondent on the sideline of a workshop in Warri, said such a campaign against the use of hard drugs was part of his group’s efforts at ensuring a more peaceful society for socio- economic growth in Warri South Local Government Area of the state and Nigeria, at large.
Ariyo, who is also a development expert and a lawyer, noted that the increase in crime rate, violence and rise in the number of people with mental disorder could largely be attributed to the high consumption of hard drugs and other related substances by youths.
Suggesting solution to the seemingly worrisome development across the country, he advised that the government had to do more by properly equipping the relevant agencies, like the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, to carry out their statutory functions.
According to Ariyo, the alarming rate of the use of hard drugs should be a concern to everybody.
He added that all hands must be on deck to stop the ‘monster.’
Earlier, Dr. Shola Mese, a speaker at the workshop, decried the alleged lackadaisical attitude of government in ensuring that children had access to qualitative education.
Mese noted that dearth of the necessary infrastructure in schools had created a situation where children learn under harsh conditions, which would negatively affect their psyche.
He identified joblessness and frustration as some of the factors that have led to the increase in the use of hard drugs, lamenting that in Delta State, despite the increase in the number of drug addicts, only one rehabilitation home, which was not even functional, existed.
Mese, therefore, urged members of the public to desist from stigmatising drug addicts who have gone through rehabilitation.
He said they should rather embrace and encourage them, stressing that that would help them to reintegrate faster to the society.
A member of the Delta State Edu- Marshal, Mrs. Moboghanre, told our correspondent that the campaign should also be taken to primary and secondary schools in order to sensitize children early in life on the danger associated with the use of hard drugs.
Chairman of the Warri South Local Government Area council, Mofe Edema, who was represented by Vincent Nanna, pledge the council’s support in partnering with individuals and organisations in the fight against the menace of hard drugs.
On his part, the Area Commander for Warri, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Muazu Mohammed, who was represented by Patrick Eboga, an assistant superintendent of police, called on the public to volunteer useful information about the centres where illicit drugs were being sold in the state.
He assured the people that the police would treat such information with utmost confidentiality.