Group seeks support to take Nigerian youths off drugs
Legal Advocacy Response to Drugs Initiative (LARDI), a group of pro bono lawyers, has urged well-meaning Nigerians to take proactive steps to save the youth from drug addiction which had turned them into political thugs and kidnappers.
LARDI’s Head of Publicity, Mr Emeka Nwadioke, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Nwadioke said that such intervention was necessary before such miscreants compromised the sanctity of the Nigerian dream.
According to him, social vices like political thuggery, cultism, killings, kidnapping and drug addiction must be quickly addressed for peace to reign in the country.
He suggested sustained sensitisation of youths to understand the dangers of addiction to their health, well-being and the society.
The spokesman noted that the security challenges in parts of the country posed a threat to the growth of the nation.
“The current security challenges and social ills affecting our nation are of great concern to us.
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“ Sensitisation programmes should be organised across the nation to re-orientate our youths on the effect of the social vices they engage in,” he said.
Nwadioke said that the menace of drug abuse in the society must be tackled as it would hinder peace and unity of the country.
“We have a responsibility to collaborate with agencies like the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other NGOs, in line with what we do.
“This will ensure the eradication of illegal sale and use of drugs in our society,” he said.
Nwadioke noted that illicit drug intake was the root cause of most crimes in the country, adding that majority of crimes being committed are mostly perpetrated under the influence of hard drugs.
He urged security agencies to tackle the menace of kidnapping in the country, saying that it had become a threat to the lives of the people.
“Kidnapping is a serious crime punishable with life imprisonment.
“I urge the youths to shun all forms of criminal activities that would jeopardise their future, and could also lead them to untimely death,” Nwadioke said.
The spokesman, therefore, urged the Federal Government to set up drug rehabilitation centres nationwide, to help wean addicts of their bad habits.
NAN
