Intensify Fight against Drug Abuse in Society,   NDLEA Told

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

A non-governmental organisation, the Civil Rights Council (CRC) has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify the fight against intake of illicit drugs by youths in the society.

This demand arose from an interactive session of security agencies and other stakeholders that wasthe  organised by CRC in Port Harcourt at the weekend, with supports from Social Development Integrated Center (Social Action) and Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (an international organisation).

During the interactive session, issues of human rights abuse and how to strengthen the relationship between the security agencies, civil society groups and the general public were discussed.

Some of the security agencies and other stakeholders present at the meeting included representatives from NDLEA, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), others.

Presenting the communique at the end of the programme, the National Coordinator of CRC, Mr. Arochukwu Ogbonna, said that the aim of the programme was to ensure that the human rights component in the policing and delivering of police services in the country are observed.

Ogbonna said: “After a constructive discussion with security agencies, members of civil rights council and other CSOs, we arrived at a certain communique as a working document going on in their collaboration to ensure that there is cooperation and that human rights is observed in the course of provision of policing services.”

Commending the EFCC personnel for their professionalism in the course of discharge of duty and functions, the group “demanded that they should do better going forward. They should ensure that they observe human rights and rule of law on the process of discharge of their function.

“We as well agreed that political will, logistics, funding, adequate remuneration, training and retraining of security agencies is a precondition for their good performances and infact, the presence of this in the EFCC at the state department is what has made it to stand out amongst others.

“We have agreed that the NDLEA should intensify their search about the intake and keeping of illicit drugs, because that will be very necessary in stopping crime, and stopping crime will be very fundamental in fighting for human rights.

“We understand that there is need for more funding for the police, as well noting that there is need for police institution to adequately account for funds and resources made available to them.

Earlier in her address, the Acting Executive Director of Socal Action, Ms. Mercy-Anino Atsekurubu, said that the CRC has been working in cooperation with different security and law enforcement agencies, the legal system and community people to tackle the increasing rate of infringement on fundamental rights of the citizens.

Atsekurubu expressed that the engagements would lead to a better and improved atmosphere of mutual trust and relationship between all stakeholders.