By John Odhe, YENAGOA
Critical stakeholders in Bayelsa State have raised serious concerns over the rising wave of criminality linked to drug abuse, calling for a collective effort to reduce crime and to the barest minimum.
Speaking in an interview, the Principal Staff Officer for Media and Advocacy at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bayelsa Command, Mr. Daniel Howells Obah, described the situation as particularly alarming given the high level of involvement among young adults.
He highlighted that drug-bred crimes fueled by substances such as loud, cannabis, and alcohol strip users of their self-control, directly driving impulsive acts like rape, assault, domestic violence, and reckless homicide.
“Take a look at what is going on in society today. Crime is now prevalent. We are talking about Drugs-brewed crime itself. Drugs like loud, cannabis and alcohol. Users of these drugs lose inhibition.
“This leads to rape, assault, domestic violence and reckless homicides. It’s quite unfortunate going by the level of involvement of young persons in drug abuse.
“It’s a nexus. They are connected. Substance abuse, drug abuse, drug peddling, human trafficking, terrorism. They are all connected to drug induced crimes,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesperson urged parents, schools, and communities to unite against youth drug abuse by closely monitoring children at home, implementing unannounced student drug integrity tests, and sharing intelligence on drug hotspots with security agencies.
Expressing his concerns, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Musa Mohammed, acknowledged the issue as a serious challenge and emphasized that drug abuse offers zero health benefits to the body system.
He maintained that the police were actively collaborating with relevant authorities, including the NDLEA, to nip the situation in the bud across the state.
Our correspondent reports that as security agencies and community leaders intensify their campaign against illicit substances, a united front remains vital in shielding the younger generation from the destructive path of drug abuse and securing a safer future for Bayelsa State.
