BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
There is palpable fear within the urban communities in Oyo State over the increasing rate of drug use and abuse, especially among the youths.
At day time as well as during the night, gangs of youths, between ages 16 and 25, are seen at flashpoints and lonely areas, taking hard substances suspected to be marijuana and spirit of varying makes and descriptions.
In the heart of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, pockets of streetwise boys are seen along the railway tracks near Sango/Elewure junction, and around Olomi, Oppo Yiosa, Beere, Kudeti and other communities, smoking hard substances of different make.
The army of untamed youths had been variously linked to series of violence, cult attacks and other crimes being witnessed within the city in recent time.
Some elites across different communities in Ibadan recently raised concerns on the insecurity and the prevalence of use of hard drugs and outlawed substances among the youths.
During a meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, recently, some Mogajis, family heads in Ibadan and adjoining communities advised the state government to engage the youths productively in order to curb the danger of youth’s misdemeanor.
During the 2021 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking last week, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, suggested that the effective control of drug abuse would be an effective way of tackling the growing vices such as kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges besetting the country.
Ogundoyin, while addressing the symposium organised by the Oyo State Government to mark the day, lamented the continuous rise of drug abuse among the youths.
Describing the development as most disturbing, he said a lot of crimes committed by the youths and the older suspects, being investigated by security agents, were committed under the influence of drugs.
The Speaker said, “Let me cite the recently arrested 21-year-old student who is now a suspect in the police custody over the murder of a CEO in Lagos. She did not only confess to the crime, she also affirmed that the incident happened after she and the victim had taken some dangerous substances.
“Imagine what drug abuse had cost families and even the society in general. I must confess that gang wars being experienced in the society, cultism in higher institutions, banditry, kidnappings, armed robbery, terrorism, sex work, internet fraud and other organised crimes, are on the increase because of the rise in abuse and trade of drugs and other dangerous stimulants among Nigerians.
“The Oyo State House of Assembly is using this medium to reassure all stakeholders of its readiness to partner and work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, as well as the private, religious and socio-cultural organisations, to put an end to drug abuse in the society.
“We know that drug is under the Exclusive Legislative List, but the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly under my watch has passed motions and resolutions on the urgent need to control the use and sales of illicit drugs among the populace.”
While charging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control to intensify efforts by advancing the war against abuse and trafficking of harmful substances like Opioid, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, codeine, tramadol, blue pills, amphetamine, colorado, also known as black mamba; amsterdam, gold, devil’s weeds, Mary Joy, Tai high, legal high etc., Ogundoyin urged stakeholders to support the fight against drug abuse and trafficking of illicit substances.
He said, “As a young person, I had heard a whole lot on these substances. Most of these psychoactive drugs come with funny names like skunks, skushi, arizona, skales and so on.
“Other latest substances taken by the youths include Lipton soaked in Regal gin, dry pawpaw leaves, Hypo in Lacasera drink, Tom Tom in Lacasera drink, 10 days urine, dry plantain leaves, burnt tyres and methylated spirit in Coke; the list seems endless.”
“Unfortunately, females are not left out of this menace. Thus, implementation of more punitive measures to discourage this habit may be necessary at this stage, while more intervention support and rehabilitation programmes must be put in place for repentant abusers. It must be a continuous and sustained campaign and advocacy programmes in combating the scourge,” he added.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relations, Olufemi Josiah, expressed the state government’s resolve to launch a systematic war against the use of illicit drugs, in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies in the state.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, has expressed the Command’s resolve to arrest and prosecute erring members of the public who engage in the use of the outlawed products in the state.
