Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The police in Anambra state have embarked on campaign against illicit drug consumption to rid communities of deliquences and deviant behaviours resulting from indulgence in such anti-social tendencies.
The state commissioner of police CP Echeng Echeng said the campaign became necessary to dissuade youths in rural communities from the possession and intake of dangerous substances detrimental to them especially with the recent crave for consumption of menthaphetamine otherwise referred to as Mkpulummili in local parlance, by youngsters.
Echeng who spoke with our correspondent on Friday through the Police Public Relations Officer of the command DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, explained that drugs are the oxygen that drive most crimes and bad behaviors exhibited by individuals.
The CP said it is an unfortunate situation that youths engage in drug taking to serve whatever purpose or satisfaction.
According to him, the Anambra State Police Command frowns on the ugly development and has equally led a deliberate programme by the police high command called Police Campaign Against Cultism and other vices; a programme targeted to sensitize youths in Anambra state of dangers of drugs and other vices.
Echeng also disclosed that the police is planning a town hall meeting in different communities and among other strategies to deal with the situation.
He said, “Basically, we are engaging in sensitization programmes to let them know the dangers of drug abuse and that drug is the oxygen or propeller of major crimes and bad behaviors in the communities.
“Among other strategies, we have carried out intensive raids in some mentioned spots and places and some of the substances recovered are expose to our forensic lab for identification and we are also engaging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”
The Police Commissioner therefore stated that although it is an unfortunate development that drug abuse seemed to escalate in recent times, he called on parents and guardians to watch over their children and wards as a veritable measure to curtailing the increase in abuse of dangerous substances.
He also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as other relevant stakeholders for a continuous advocacy against substance abuse and other negative vices among youths.