By John Ovie
The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has continued to make good his promise to rid the state of illicit drugs usage which has been adjudged as largely responsible for the prevalence of mental health cases amongst the youths.
Penultimate week, governor Diri ordered for the demolition of an area notorious for the sales and consumption of contraband drugs located at Yenizue-gene popularly known as Aboki quarters in Yenagoa, the state capital.
At the weekend, the governor, acting on security intelligence, also ordered the demolition of another suspected drug abuse joint directly located opposite the earlier demolished Aboki quarters.
A statement earlier released by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah quoted the governor as saying that the demolition exercises should not be misunderstood or seen as targeting any group of persons living in Bayelsa state but a deliberate government policy to make the state a drug free zone.
The governor reiterated that no amount of sentiments would deter the prosperity administration from carrying out its primary duty of providing security for Bayelsa and her residents.
Meanwhile, some of the affected victims who are predominantly northerners said they were transacting lawful businesses, arguing that it was not everyone residing at the said Aboki quarters the was doing drugs.
Sani Aliyu, a victim of the demolition exercise called on the government to identify the genuine business men amongst northerns residing in the state and relocate them.
However, residents of Yenagoa have continued to eulogize governor Douye Diri for taking the bold step of demolishing an area they referred to as a haven for sales and consumption of illicit substances.
“I really commend the miracle governor for taking the bold step. The demolition of the Aboki quarters is long overdue. It has destroyed many of our youths.
Today, you see a lot of mentally impaired young men roaming the streets in a proportion that had not been witnessed in the past. This is as a result of drug abuse and the Aboki quarters at Yenizue-gene is one of the flash point,” Mr. Inebi Otobo, a Yenagoa resident, said.
In the same vein, another resident, James Okezie said “governor Douye Diri should not listen to distractions. He should go ahead and demolish any joint suspected to be used for the sales of harmful substances that are silently destroying our young brains.
