By Onoriode Etatsemi
The need for collaborative efforts towards tackling drug abuse in society has been brought to the fore.
Delta State Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole SAN stated this in Asaba when the Delta State Commander of Narcotics in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Abubakar Wada Esq, paid him a courtesy visit.
Ohwovoriole said that the best way to address drug abuse was by arresting, rehabilitating, and counselling.
He said that the State Ministry of Justice is a law enforcement Ministry despite not being an Agency of law enforcement like the NDLEA. He stated that the Ministry has a Department of People’s Right that adopts mediation in the resolution of issues involving marital matters
The Attorney -General stated that when a person begins to exhibit negative personality changes, different from what the person is normally known for, it is important for care to be taken in getting to root cause of such changes which might be due to drug abuse. He stated that the drug abuse scourge was on the rise, and there is the need to nip it in the bud.
He stated that when the issue is addressed, there would be peace in society, stating that peace and security is one of the fulcrum of Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
While frowning at the rate at which people engage in drug trafficking and selling of poisonous and harmful items, Ohwovoriole informed the State Commander of Narcotics that there was need for collaboration between the Ministry of Justice to and the NDLEA.
Earlier, the State Commander of Narcotics in NDLEA, Abubakar Wada Esq., told the Commissioner that his Agency has embarked on regular patrols of Asaba, Okpanam particularly Hausa market area with a view to fighting drug abuse among youths in those areas.
He said that recently, four suspects were arrested in connection with drug offences.
He said of the four arrested suspects, three were foreigners while one was a Nigerian and disclosed that the suspects had been charged to the Federal High Court, Asaba.
Wada stated that his Agency was in need of logistics such as vehicles from the State Government to be able to constantly patrol the area, emphasizing that their presence would deter youths from taking to illicit drug usage
The high point of the visit was the presentation of a plaque to the Attorney -General.
