NDLEA decries alarming rate of drug abuse in Plateau

Mrs Ene Akuh in charge of Operations, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Palteau Command, has described the rate of drug abuse among youths in the state as alarming.

She stated this at sensitisation training, organised by an NGO, Nigeria Youth Network on Countering Violent Extremism, for youth leaders in Jos on Friday.

Aku, who noted that most youths in the state engaged in violence and other social vices, urged them to desist from taking illicit drugs.

The officer also called on community and religious leaders to support government in ensuring that the menace of drug abuse, not only among youths but also the general society, was brought to an end.

The state Focal Person of the NGO, Mr Jacob Pwakim, said the aim of the training was to build capacity of young people who would take action against violent extremism in the communities.

He said youths were usually the most hit when violence erupted, hence the need to educate them in ensuring an end to violence in the society.

“Over time, we have experienced incessant violent protests where young people were used to take the lives of people in the society.

“We can’t fold our arms and see the population of young people who ought to be leaders of tomorrow depleting, this is why the network decided to organise this sensitisation.

“Our target is to build structure of young people who will take action against violent extremism at the community level,” he said.

It was reported that the training, supported by Search for Common Ground, another NGO, drew participants from Jenta Adamu and Rikkos communities.

The network was formed from a youth summit against violence extremism held in Maiduguri in 2016.

Plateau had witnessed various forms of violence that left scores displaced.