By Christopher Oji
Stakeholders in security have advised youths, especially secondary school children, to run away from drugs as it would ruin their future.
The security eggheads, who were speaking during 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, organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), at Anwal-ul- Islam Model College, Agege, also warned against child’s trafficking and abuse.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, who engaged the students in an interactive session, warned that there was no gain in taking hard drugs, as it would only destroy their health and future, adding, “it is better not to start taking drugs, because when you start, it is difficult to stop and it will destroy your future; so, don’t start at all.”
The CP, who was represented by the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, an alma mater of the host school, used himself as a case study and urged the students to stay away from drugs and cultism.
Egbeyemi said consumption of hard drugs leads to untimely death, destruction of future ambition, rustication from school, brain disorder, heart and kidney failures, among other diseases. He also listed factors that attract students to get addicted or join cult groups to include: curiosity, lack of confidence, greed, craving for power, and ignorance.
“I want you to utilise this opportunity to do away with drugs and cultism. Don’t just get close to it; don’t go and use what would affect your brains and ruin your future. The brain is the power of your body, and your brain is your future after God. It’s where your thinking faculty is.
Whatever you want to become in life, apart from your destiny, lies in your brain. Desist from anything you would affect your brain. I am a police officer, and I can tell you, authoritatively, that there is no way you can disassociate drugs from crime. Once you start the intake of drugs, there is no way you will not indulge in crime,” Egbeyemi counseled.
In his goodwill message, chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, reminded the students that they were the future of the country, hence, they should avoid the use of hard drugs, 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, so they should shun what would hinder them from being great in life.
“As we do know that you are the leaders of tomorrow, avoid the use of banned substances; do not get addicted to those substances. The future of the country is in your hands, so, shun what would debar you from becoming great.”
Ogunsan, who was represented by Mr. Afolabi Aina, applauded the organisers for the initiative in focusing on students at the symposium.
On her own, Zonal Coordinator, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Comfort Agboko, hinted that investigation revealed that many who indulge in trafficking in persons use the avenue to traffic drugs, and that drugs are also used for sex exploitation.
She said illicit drugs were also being used for sex exploitation, to give the girls the strength to be able to have sexual intercourse with about 10 to 30 men in a day without feeling the pain, while their recruiters sit down in their comfort zones to collect money.
“What we are telling you is that victims of human trafficking are being used by traffickers to traffic drugs, they are also being used for sex exploitation and it gives them the strength to be able to have sexual intercourse with about 10 to 30 men in a day without feeling the pain. Victims of human trafficking may eventually loose their lives. Therefore, children, stay away from drug abuse and substance use, it kills your dreams.”
Agboko noted that students engage in drug abuse due to peer pressure, superiority, desire to navigate, efforts to get revived from depression after failure, anxiety for success.
Speaking on the menace of drug abuse, the NDLEA Lagos State Commander, who was represented by Fatimah Dauda, stressed that drug abuse takes one backwards and destroys the future. She said it also causes AIDs and makes your family members run away from you because a victim would get involved in all sorts of social vices. She further identified several consequences of drugs, which she said manifest physically, socially and psychologically.
Earlier in his welcome address, President of CRAN, Mr. Lekan Olabulo, lamented that despite the war declared by the government and its agencies on drug abuse, the rate of indulging in illicit substances has continued to grow higher and higher every new day. He expressed surprise that students in secondary and primary schools have become targets of unscrupulous drug peddlers, who take the drugs to their schools.
Olabulo added that names of prohibited substances like: colorado, codeine, Indian hemp, skunk, tramadol rohypnol, strong, loud and other dangerous drugs have found their ways into our schools and portend great danger to the future of our nation.
“There is a strong need for the government and the relevant agencies to dedicate more time, energy and resources to the advocacy and enlightenment on drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” he said.