Summit: Stakeholders urge Govt on drug circulation, sources
Stakeholders at the maiden Gombe peace and security summit have urged government on checking sources of drugs in order to mitigate drugs prevalence.
The participants comprising resources persons, representatives of various organisations, community leaders, strategic stakeholders stated this in a 22-point communique issued at the end of its summit.
Our correspondent reports that the Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba shortly after delivering a keynote address on Mitigating Contemporary Security Challenges for Sustainable Development in Gombe State, commissioned a joint taskforce operational vehicles, alongside Governor Muhammadu Yahaya ahead of Operation Hattara takeoff to restore sanity in Gombe.
Delivering the resolutions of the summit, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zubairu Mua’zu, explained that there was a nexus between violent crimes and drugs.
He lauded Gombe State Government and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency interventions in curbing the excess of drugs in the state, noting that it was a national challenge.
The communique partly read, “The Summit resolves that the various initiatives of the Gombe State Government such as the establishment of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Boltongo, the creation of GOSTEC are timely and commendable steps that could help further strengthen the current security arrangements in the state.
“In particular, the summit applauds the government’s zero tolerance approach to the issue of political thuggery and other social vices (perpetrated by the dreaded Yan Kalare thugs) which culminated into the launching on Tuesday of the security initiative code named “Operation Hattara”. The summit wishes to call on the operation to take advantage of the findings and resolutions of the summit especially in terms of compliance with law and order.
“Drugs and substance abuse, particularly among the youth, is a major driver of violent crimes in the country. While commending the renewed efforts of NDLEA and the Gombe State Government to combat this problem, the Summit believes that it is vital to do more in terms of cutting the sources of drugs supply, increase in funding drugs prevention and control initiatives/operations.”
The group urged government to establish recreational centres within urban areas, stressing that it would reduce the involvement of youths in crime tendencies.
“The Gombe State Government is encouraged to organise a townhall meeting to discuss the dual issue of drugs and political thuggery so as to find a common ground among stakeholders on what needs to be done to prevent violence ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“The Summit noted that lack of sports and recreational facilities is contributing to drugs and substance abuse, youth restiveness and gang violence. Providing such facilities especially in urban centres will help engage the youth and enable them to harness their God-given potentials,” Mua’zu added.
While commending Bauchi, Adamawa and Yobe states for sending their aides to be part of the summit, Mua’zu urged the region’s governors forum to organise a similar summit.
According to him, “The summit strongly recommends that, without further delay, a sub-regional security summit of this nature should be convened under the auspices of the North-East Governors Forum to consolidate on the gains and achievements of this summit.”
