It was a strange gathering of intellectuals, Journalists, Lawyers, members of the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS Int’l), otherwise known as Pyrates Confraternity (PC), and various pupils of five secondary schools in Bayelsa State.
However strange a gathering, its aim was to seek ways to sensitise Nigerians on the rising menace of drug abuse in the state, with a public lecture as part of activities to commemorate this year’s Feast of Barracuda (FoB) and educate citizens on deaths and damages done to youths by excessive drug intake.
Available data showed that over 10 youths were recorded dead from drug overdose. And Five of them are below 20 years of age, who were undergraduate students of various higher institutions in the state. Shockingly, three out of the five were females.
The Capon Oxbow Marino Deck, Ebi Ayerite, urged youths to avoid illicit drugs and substance abuse. According to him, it affects both the old and the young, as well as impedes societal growth and development.
The deputy superintendent of Narcotics (NDLEA), Obebatein Okprubia Aduba, lamented that punishing victims of drug addiction has been difficult, because it exposes them to more harm.
According to her, sensitisation, enactment of laws by communities and their full enforcements, parental care and guidance, non-patronage of drug dealers, were among the key factors of reducing supplies, marketing and consumption of drugs, substance abuse and other illicit drug addiction.
A representative of the State Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Faith Izibenua, reiterated that rehabilitation centres are open to admit drug inmates with a view to properly rehabilitating them as well as to offer : counseling, detoxification and empowerment before reintegration back to society.
The chairman, State Council of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Comrade Samuel Numonengi, attributed the rising cases of armed robbery, cultism, rape and other crimes to the intake of illicit drug abuse.
The chairman of the State Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT), Barr. Dise Goddy-Harry, while speaking on the topic: “Drug Abuse: The Multiple Negative Effects”, warns that the negative effects of drug abuse has led to: arrests, court convictions, dropping out of school, criminal records. All of these takes away one’s personal freedom. Illicit drug abuse can also cause death through overdose or leave it’s victim mentally deranged.
Citing Sections 11(c), 14 and 19 of the NDLEA Act, Barr. Goddy Harry stated that the collaborators or any person who incites, induces, conspires, aid and abet or counsel others to commit any offence mentioned in these sections, is liable to imprisonment for a term not less than 15 years and not exceeding 25 years.
