Crime Prevention Partners (CPP), TAG International, Cleen Foundation, Bright Future, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force, PCRC Area G Command, and Ifako-Ijaiye LG, held a workshop/campaign against cultism and drug abuse in Ifako-Ijaiye LG.
The event, with the theme “Sustainable War Against Cultism And Drug Abuse – Community/Government Roles,” was held at the Ifako-Ijaiye LG council on Thursday.
In his welcome address, the PCRC Chairman, Area G, Jude Udoh, urged parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders to take the issue of cultism and drug abuse seriously.
Mr Jude, who is also the Secretary of the PCRC, Lagos State, said all hands must be on deck if the menace is to be curbed.
Dr Adetolu Olatunde, a Drug Demand Reduction Global Trainer, who spoke on the dangers of drug abuse on the youths and society at large, said the school, parents, religious leaders all have a role to play.
“Most of those who abuse the drugs are youths, and that is why we all need to play our roles. If we let this continue, it will boomerang. Most of these children, after taking these drugs, because they are no longer in their right senses, they end up committing crimes.
“So, we community leaders, we have roles to play. We need to channel their energy into the right place. They need to be meaningfully engaged. They need to learn skills that will keep them busy and channel their energy into the right place,” he said.
The Director, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adebayo, who spoke at the event, said the community must come together to speak up and chastise any child taking drugs.
According to him, children were not born criminals. They were born with a clean mind, what is called ‘Tabula Rasa,’ and as such, mothers have a role to play in ensuring the child turns out right by correcting them and guiding them right.
Innocent Abinah, the Assistant Commander, NDLEA, Lagos Command, reiterated the command’s commitment to ridding the nation of drugs.
He also called on community members to provide the agency with any drug dealer living within them as such people are destroying the lives of the youths.
Other stakeholders present at the event were police officers, the DSS, market leaders, religious leaders, youth leader, and students, among others.
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