By Christopher Oji
Nigerian schoolchildren have been advised to avoid drugs and cultism to secure a bright future. This advice was given at the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking event organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) in Ikeja.
Commander Mallum Musa, in charge of media and advocacy at the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Lagos Command, urged the children to resist peer pressure, stay away from drugs, and be good ambassadors. He emphasized that illicit drugs fuel crime and can destroy their ambitions.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, warned against experimenting with drugs, stating that it leads to a loss of control. He cautioned them against crime, drug abuse, and cultism, reminding them that young offenders face juvenile courts and detention centres.
Daniel Osita Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the Jesus Care Reformation Centre for Drug Abuse and Misuse, called for collective action to protect the younger generation. He urged reporting any crime to the police and criticized those promoting drugs and harmful substances through music, movies, and clubs. He expressed concern about children idolizing such individuals.
CRAN President, Lekan Olabulo, advised the NDLEA and other security agencies to prioritize public awareness campaigns in schools and communities to combat drug abuse. He highlighted CRAN’s commitment to fighting crime through sensitization programs for students and the public.