Anita Ogona
In a bid to ensure illicit drug free society, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) on Tuesday 30th July,2024 in collaboration with Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC) took their campaign against drug abuse to Rivers State University in Portharcourt.
Deputy Zonal Commander Drug Demand Reduction Zone N Portharcourt Rosemary Ajuzie, in an interview with Journalists said ” what we are going to achieve is that the populace will know the importance of drug free life in the society and they we be educated to know how to fight drug menace in our society so that our society will be free of drug abuse and trafficking.
“Most people that take hard drugs are into criminalities. Most of them without the influence of drugs cannot have that heart to do what they want to do but the moment they take the drugs it will influence them to do whatever they want to do.
“It goes with crime. There is no human being that will stand up and say I want to cause violence or commit crime ,it always goes with drug abuse. When they take the drug they are no longer in their senses, that is why they will do whatever they want to do.
“Most of them after doing all this, they will now regret. We have facility for drug dependent persons in every command. Even some states have their rehabilitation centre where we house the ones that are already addicted. We do counselling and rehabilitate them so that they can go back to the society to become useful to the society”
She advised the management of the institution to provide penalty for students who engage in drug abuse and also scrutinized people who sell on community as from experience, some of them may be involved in drug peddling.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers CP Olatunji Disu represented by Epiekiri Firstman, Second in Command, Police Public Relations department, Police headquarters Moscow road stated that the use of drugs has been abused over time.
“Drug abuse is the use without prescription. One of the negative effects of drug abuse is that it leads to neglect of responsibility given to them. Drug addict are very hostile to people. Drug abuse can also disorganize your sense.
“The basic solution to drug abuse is abstinence. You should not take drugs without prescription .You need expert opinion of a Doctor before you take drugs even when you are ill”.
He stated that there is a nexus between crime and drugs abuse as people who abuse drugs always indulge in crime.
The Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee(PCRC),Rivers State Command Mr. Voke Emore, in an interview with Journalists stated that they are partnering with the NDLEA and the Police on the War Against Drug Abuse(WADA).
“We have done this last year the first edition was in Ignatius Ajuru University. This year we are doing it in Rivers State University(RSU)
“Now, the main aim is to ensure we catch them young, to ensure the students do not get into drug. What a good time to do this rally when people are also preparing for protest.
“This is also an avenue for us to share with the young ones to let them know they should not be involved in violent protest.
“We can all protest for what we are going through in the economy but as much as possible it should not be drug based or violent based” he said.
Mr. Voke Emore further advised the students to abstain from hard drug as it can damage their health, career and future.
Our correspondent reports that the President of Student Union Government(SUG) was represented by the director of Socials.
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