Rivers Community, NDLEA to Tackle Effect of Drug Abuse

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Youths of Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State have resolved to partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a bid tackle drug abuse and other causes of security challenges in the area.

The youths, under the aegis of Bodo City Youth Council, made the resolution at the end of its meeting held at the weekend at Iriebe, Obio/Akpor LGA of the state.

Spokesperson of the group, George Pronen, who presented the resolution as agreed by the council, said the meeting was held towards ensuring human security for sustainable socio-economic and cultural development of their land.

The group, under the leadership of their President, Kenneth Bakor, held the six-day security meeting with a theme: ‘Reconciling the Young Generation for Prosperous Future: A Christ Model’.

Some of the resolution reached at the meeting included: “That we the youths of Bodo City collectively understand the holistic meaning of security as including a guarantee for basic food supply, basic health provisions, personal safety, economic sustenance, environmental security, political inclusiveness, and infrastructural advance.

“That we the youths of Bodo City forthwith adopt entirely a nonviolent but civil-friendly space for all players in the land.

“That we entirely resolve to align with the security community of the Gokana Local Government Area and its executive chairman forthwith to ensure a gun-free society. In the light of which we propose a door-to-door search that is aimed at sponging out the least set of such harmful substances as guarantee of safety of lives and property.

“That we the youths of Bodo commit ourselves to embarking on a thorough public enlightenment campaign on desistance from harmful and abusive drugs. We propose a partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Bori Command in order to achieve this goal.

“We wholeheartedly commit ourselves to discourage all forms of esoteric practices that are contradictory to development, such as practices of witchcraft and sorcery that do harm to our youths.

“That we the youths of Bodo declare that Bodo shall always remain one of the most visitor-friendly communities in the Niger Delta hence passionately invite technocrats and innovators to our land to harness our youths skilled potential population.”