The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos Police Command CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and Dr. Ayo Ogunsan have harped on the danger of drug abuse and its consequence on the youth and security of the country.
They therefore urged students to abstain from it, warning that the use of hard drugs would damage their health, destroy their future and shatter their aspirations.
The trio made the submission at a one day sensitisation campaign on Drug Abuse for Secondary School Students in Lagos, in commemoration of the 2023 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed ” People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strength Prevention”, organized by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), held at Anwal-ul- Islam Model College, Agege.
In his good will message, the chairman of the occasion Dr. Ayo Ogunsan reminded the students that they are the future of the country, hence they should avoid the use of hard drug in order not to shatter their aspirations.
Ogunsan, who is a member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) stressed that the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of the students and should shun what would hinder them from being great in life
His words, ” As we do know that you are the leaders of tomorrow, avoid the use of hard drug substances, do not get addicted to those substances. The future of the country is in your hands shun what would debar you from becoming great”.
Represented at the event by Mr. Afolabi Aina, the LSSTF chieftain applauded the organisers for the initiative in focusing on students for the symposium.
The Commander of the RRS CSP Egbeyemi who engaged the students in an interactive session, warned that there is no gain in taking hard drug, adding that it would only destroy their health and future.
Egbeyemi, an alma mater of the host school, born in Agege, used himself as a case study and urged the students to stay away with drug and cultism.
Speaking further he said consumption of hard drugs lead to untimely death, destruction of future ambition, rustication from school, brain disorder amongst others.
He also listed factors that attracts one to get addicted or join cultism to include curiosity, lack of confidence, greed craving for power and ignorance.
” I want you to utilise this opportunity you have gotten to do away with drug and cultism.Don’t just get close to it, don’t go and use what will affect your brain.
” The brain is power of your body and your brain is future after God, It’s where your thinking faculty is. Whatever you want to become in life apart from your destiny, lies on brain. Desist from anything you will take that will affect your brain”, Egbeyemi counseled.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of CRAN Lekan Olabulo lamented that despite the war ,declared by the government and its agencies on drug abuse ,the rate of indulging in these illicit substances has continued to grow higher and higher every new day.
He expressed surprise that students in secondary schools and even primary schools have become the targets of unscrupulous drug peddlers ,who take these drugs to their schools.
Olabulo added that names of prohibited substances like :colorado , ,codeine ,indian hemp ,skunk ,tramadol rophynol ,strong ,loud and other dangerous drugs have found their way into our schools and portend great danger to the future of our nation.
According to him, another noticeable abuse of drugs among our youths now is the excessive use of overdose of cough syrup , especially those that contain codeine
The CRAN President identified the consequences of drug abuse in the country to include increase in banditry ,kidnapping ,armed robbery ,murder and others forms of crime as well as unprecedented rise in broken homes and mental disorderliness.
Olabulo therefore submitted that, ” There is a strong need for he government and the relevant agencies to dedicate more time , energy and resources to the advocacy and enlightenment on drug abuse and illicit trafficking
He implored that, ” Rreligious institutions should also join in the fight against drug abuse. They should not just celebrate : Valentine Day ,Fathers’ Day , Mother’s Day and other days of less importance”.
Olabulo opined that deep teachings on drug abuse in our religious places will go a long way in the fight against the scourge.
In addition he posited that, ” Schools and other institutions of learning also have a role to play in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking . It is the responsibility of all of us to put our hands and energies together to fight drug abuse in our country”.
The event had in attendance over 200 students drawn from Adam Yakub Memorial High School, Bakare Disu Oshodi Memorial College, Nojim Kaku Memorial High School, St. Joseph Secondary School, Saka Tinubu Memorial High School, Alpha Rehoboth College and Anwal-ul- Islam Model College.
