NOA sensitises Gombe stakeholders on curbing violence
National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Tuesday, organised implementation of National Security Sensitization Programme against political thuggery, kidnapping, drug abuse, radicalization and violent extremism in Gombe.
Addressing an audience which cuts across; traditional, religious institutions, collaborative agencies, unions, Gombe State Director, Adaline Waye Patari stated the essence of the programme, adding that securing of lives and property is a dire need for any thriving country.
Patari urged relevant agencies and stakeholders to team up with her agency towards curbing the vices caused by drug abuse and other ills.
According to her, the programme is imperative since it is geared towards educating, mobilising Nigerians to shun drug abuse and related vices, as well as educate citizens to adapt responsible attitudes.
She said, “Without security, a country remains exposed to threats, and is vulnerable.In this state, the attainment of such a country’s objectives and projects becomes a herculean task.
“As an agency of government involved in community mobilization in its programme implementation, experience has shown that drugs are often associated with virtually all anti-social behaviours bedevilling the country.
“It is enabler and trigger which propels people to go into crimes and criminalities such as; political thuggery, banditry, political and religious radicalism, kidnapping, violent extremism, armed robbery, vandalism and wanton destruction of public assets and infrastructure.”
Also speaking, Gombe State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), lamented the increase of psychotropic substances in the state, adding that it has overwhelming influence on users.
The State Commander, Ekaete Egwunwoke, made this revelation in Gombe during the Egwunwoke revealed that Rohypnol, has aided rape cases, noting that drugs have dire consequences. Represented by Deputy Commander Olisaemeka Okafor, the commander urged all hands to be on deck.
The commander noted that out of about 100 percent of seizures by the agency over 80 percent were prescribed drugs.
She said, “Most of them are prescription drugs but people abuse it. Many boys use it to hypnotize women. Generally, the psychotropic substances the usage is on the increase.
“Also, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes standard Indian hemp should be the highest drug of abuse in the whole world but in Gombe State it is prescription drugs that is psychotropic substances and they are; tramadol, Rohypnol, d5 all those prescription drugs including cough syrup and codeine.
“Cannabis that is Indian hemp has 20 percent that will tell you the way people are abusing d5, tramadol, Rohypnol and the rest of them. Recently, we seized tramadol of 25,700 capsules from a student and it worths millions of Naira.
She added that if the seizure was not made it would have circulated in Gombe, “This prescription drugs immediately they enter Gombe under three days they will be sold. They are making high turnover but we are working assiduously to catch with them,” Egwunwoke said.
On his part, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Lariski, appealed to parents to play their parts in the transformation of their children, he noted that if leaders in both churches and mosques preached relevant messages a lot would be achieved in the lives of some deviant youths.
Also, Secretary of Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI), Sale Damburam said it would be inappropriate to blame one person, noting that everyone has various part to play.
Danburam disagreed that relevant messages were not taught in both churches and mosques, stressing that “those who engage in drug abuse do not attend church or mosque. we have to change our attitude, to play our role. if youths are properly guided particularly politicians.”
He added that Gombe has remained relatively peaceful due to consultations by both traditional, religious leaders and other stakeholders.
