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70% of youths threatened by drugs, says Marwa
…Marwa launches WADA Club for Universities at UNIABUJA
…Explains why Drug Integrity Test for Universities is necessary.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig General Buba Marwa has warned that the nation faces a grim future over the rate of drugs prevalence among youths wondering, “what will become of Nigeria with about 70% youth population if the future of its youths is ravaged by drugs.
Speaking while launching the War Against Drugs Abuse (WADA) Club at the University of Abuja, Marwa said, “Part of the measures to reduce drug use in universities is the proposed introduction of the Drug Integrity Test for both new and returning students.
According to him, “The Drug Integrity Test is anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug policy for all higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.
“It is expected that the University of Abuja, being the “University of National Unity”, will be the first public university in Nigeria to adopt the Drug Integrity Test for fresh and returning students of the institution.
“The Drug Integrity Test is not a punitive measure, rather it is an early detection tool to ascertain an individual’s drug use status for appropriate intervention, and timely treatment and care.
“This will also entail that the university will develop a drug policy and make such available to each student.
“Equally important is the need to create an NDLEA outpost on the campus where we’ll deploy our men to assist the authorities, deter drug dealers and users within the university.
“It is commendable to know that the University of Abuja has a functional Counselling and Career Services Centre which attends to the psychological and emotional needs of the students including those struggling with drug addiction.
“There is a need to give necessary support and care to those who are already hooked on drugs to get out of the habit.
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“As such. I would recommend the establishment of Counselling (and Career Services) Centres in all universities which are yet to establish such. To the students, I charge you in the spirit of true patriotism to desire and work towards a country devoid of drugs and its attendant consequences.
Continuing on the high prevalence of drug useage, Marwa said, “The facts have alarming human angles. For instance, the survey revealed that one in every four drug users in Nigeria is female. And it is instructive and worrisome to know that drug use was common among those aged 25-39 years, while the age of initiation was 22 years for heroin and 19 years for cannabis.
Emphasizing that “these age groups comprised of young people who are either in secondary or tertiary institutions or are on the cusp of graduation”, he said, “To simplify the report of the survey: young people are overwhelmingly the majority of drug abusers in Nigeria.
“That is a jolting reality because youths are the building blocks of every developed nation and anything that affects the youth population affects the nation. The youth population constitutes the country’s workforce and the stronger the youth of a country, the more developed that country would be.
Appreciating Vice-Chancellor and the Counselling and Career Services Centre of the university for finding it imperative to sensitize the students and the entire university community on the devastating consequences of substance use and the way forward, Marwa said the theme, “Drug-Free University and Tertiary Institutions,” is apt and timely as there is no better time than now to combat the drug challenge in the university community and among students.
He continued, “The menace of drug use is of worrisome dimension, this is even as the government has put in place measures in line with international conventions to counter this growing challenge among our youths.
“The abuse and trafficking of drugs is a global problem and Nigeria couldn’t have been insulated from this scourge. This was why in 1990 the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was established and charged with the responsibility of “enforcing laws against the cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of narcotics and psychotropic substances and to investigate persons suspected to have dealings in drugs and other related matters.”
“Since then, the Agency has not relented in its efforts at reducing the use and trafficking of drugs. But the truth on the ground indicates that our society needs to do more. The National Drug Use and Health Survey of 2018 showed that Nigeria has a peculiar drug use prevalence.
“At 14.4%, the country’s drug use prevalence is almost three times the global average of 5.6%. And what is worse, the abuse of drugs cuts across all ages, gender, socioeconomic status and regions.
“As revealed by statistics from the survey, 14.3 million Nigerians, aged 15-64 years, used psychoactive substances, while 10.6 million abused cannabis and 4.6 million others abused pharmaceutical opioids such as codeine, tramadol and morphine among others.
“To aggressively reverse the trend, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign on 26th June 2021 to commemorate the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
“The goal of WADA is to mobilize all Nigerians, especially the youth population, for active participation in the process of ridding our society of the drug menace.
“As one of the worst-hit age groups by the drug menace, Nigerian youths are critical stakeholders to the attainment of the laudable goals of WADA.
“Since the launch of WADA, the Agency has initiated evidence-based prevention activities which include focused advocacy, drug awareness campaign, sensitization, treatment and care of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD).
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“We have launched a renewed campaign and intensive sensitization, targeting youths in schools at all levels as well as youths out of school.
“The pervasiveness and magnitude of the drug use problem have necessitated the change in the name of the club from Drug-Free Club to War Against Drug Abuse Club―WADA Club for short―to inject a renewed vibe and vigour into the club and its members.
“The main objective of the WADA Club include among others, “To prevent the use and sale of illicit drugs in schools /institutions and promote alternative activities to involvement in drugs.
“Others are to Increase the knowledge of members on the dangers associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and persuade those using drugs to seek help and equip students with necessary skills that will enable them to resist pressure to use drugs.
“These listed objectives can only be achieved through the execution of laudable activities that will promote drug-free lifestyles in educational institutions which will invariably enhance learning.
“The ambassadors, comprising of the academic and non-academic staff of the university, are to act as good role models to students by leading and living by example.
“The role of WADA Ambassadors is to supervise, encourage and support the club to ensure that the goals of the WADA campaign are achieved within the university community and its environs.
“We must be agents of change and the change we desire in others must start from us. We must use all of our talents to serve our country and fatherland.
“The Nigerian youth must be in the right state of physical and mental health as well as sound intellectual condition to adequately contribute to national development.
“The launch of the WADA Club is a significant gesture that the students, staff and indeed the entire community of the University of Abuja has joined in the campaign against drug abuse.”
Other speakers at the occasion included the representative of the minister of Education and Director Guardiance and Counselling Directorate, Mrs Okereke, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, in charge of Administration, Professor Abubakar Sadeeq, the Representative of the National University Commission, Mr Odia and the Director, Counselling and Carrier Service Center, Prof. Mrs. Ojiha
Vanguard
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Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture
Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture
Segun Olowookere, a man who was sentenced to death for stealing fowls in Osun State when he was 17, has recounted how the police tortured and gave him a cutlass used as an exhibit against him as a minor in court.
FIJ had earlier reported that Governor Ademola Adeleke planned to pardon Olowookere after news of how Justice Sakariya Oyejide Falola sentenced Olowookere and Morakinyo Sunday to death in 2014 broke out.
Olowookere was charged in court with conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing. It was on these grounds that Falola delivered his judgment.
Olowookere and Sunday spent some days at a police station in Okuku before their arraignment and conviction. Olowookere said that the police gave them one cutlass each while at the station for weeding the premises.
However, the two of them were later transferred to Osogbo, the state capital, with the cutlasses. These cutlasses were later presented before the judge as exhibits of an armed robbery offence, Olowookere told The Punch in an interview on Sunday.
HOW HE WAS ARRESTED
Now in a custodial centre working with a medical team, Olowookere said he gave himself up for the arrest in November 2010.
“I was at my father’s shop in Oyan after returning from school. My dad and I were discussing my university admission and suddenly, we heard gunshots, and everybody ran away except my dad and a few others,” he narrated.
“My father was taken to a police van where there were some children. I was peeping out and could hear and see what was going on. The police asked my dad where I was and he asked them what my offence was. When they couldn’t give him a satisfactory response, my father shouted at the top of his voice that I should run away because the police wanted to arrest me.
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“But I was wondering what my offence was. So, I came out and went to meet them. I was detained at the police post in Oyan and was taken to Okuku Divisional Police Headquarters the following day. I met the children who were in the police van when they came for me sitting on the ground and eating rice.”
THEY WERE GIVEN CUTLASSES
Olowookere recalled that the divisional police officer (DPO) heading the station at the time accused him of being a leader of an armed robbery gang consisting of teenage children.
Some days after his arrest, his parents were still making efforts to secure his bail. While this was ongoing, the police engaged them in labour, giving them a cutlass each to cut the grasses at the station.
“The DPO told me that one of the children confessed to stealing two broilers and some crates of eggs. I met the broilers and the eggs at the station,” he said.
“The children were eight in number. He told me the children said I was their gang leader, which I denied. The children he was talking about were around 12 and 13 years old, while I was 17 then. I told him I knew the children but I didn’t have anything to do with them other than greeting them in the community.
“I met Sunday Morakinyo at the station, and he told the police that he didn’t know me nor had anything to do with me. I don’t even know where he was arrested. All the children were released but Morakinyo and I were not.
“We were seriously tortured from the first day I got to the Okuku Police Station under the supervision of the DPO. The children who allegedly committed the crime were not beaten. He repeatedly asked me to admit and confess to a crime I didn’t commit.
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“After some days, we were given cutlasses to cut the grass at the police station premises despite having injuries on every part of our body as a result of the torture.”
BAIL SUM BEYOND HIS PARENTS
Olowookere’s father was asked to produce N30,000 for his bail, but his father could only raise N20,000, and the police would not cut down this financial bail demand.
His father then left the station, perhaps to gather the shortfall of N10,000. Before his father could return, the police had ferried them to Osogbo.
“My father could only raise N20,000 out of the N30,000 they demanded. The police rejected it and insisted on the N30,000,” Olowookere said.
“My dad left the station to look for the money. But before he returned the following day, we had been moved to the SARS office in Osogbo. The cutlasses that were given to me and Morakinyo to cut the grass were presented to SARS as exhibits and they were told we were armed robbers.
“After 17 days in the SARS cell, we were taken to a magistrate court and charged with robbery, and from there to the High Court, where we were sentenced to death.”
The poultry farm from which they were alleged to have stolen fowls belonged to one of his uncles.
Despite initially promising not to pursue the case against him, the uncle went on to testify in court against him.
“We are from the same Ajerotutu Compound in Oyan. He was summoned to a family meeting where he said I was not among those who stole the fowls, but my name was mentioned by the children who were arrested,” Olowookere explained.
“He told the family that he would discontinue the case. But he later came to court to testify against me.
“I never wrote any statement to the police. My parents never had a flat, not to mention a six-bedroom flat. I lived with my parents until I was arrested.”
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Asked why his lawyer didn’t object to the statement during the trial, Olowookere said, “I didn’t know anything, but I am sure I didn’t write any statement.”
SUNDAY SUFFERS MENTAL ILLNESS
As a result of the torture they received at the police station before arraignment, Sunday began to bleed from several parts of his body.
Eventually, this bleeding led to his becoming mentally ill, according to Olowookere.
“He is now a mad person. He is at Ibara Prison. He developed mental issues when we were tortured at the police station in Okuku and by the officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad. I am just lucky, and I believe God’s grace is over me,” he said.
“Morakinyo was bleeding from the anus, ears, nose and on the head. The police did not treat him despite that. I cleaned the cell every day because his blood stained the floor. He was bleeding for the entire six days we spent inside the Okuku police cell before we were transferred to the SARS cell in Osogbo.
“We spent 17 days with SARS and Morakinyo bled every day. Some of the SARS officers noticed that he was not mentally normal again but others thought he was pretending, and from there, he developed full mental issues.
“When we were remanded at Ilesa Custodial Centre, the warders tried to manage his mental health but they didn’t have the capacity. His condition then worsened. As I am talking to you, he doesn’t recognise anybody again. His mother has stopped checking up on him.”
Olowookere said he was hopeful that he would regain his freedom someday to pursue his academic studies and become useful to the world.
“I first enrolled in Yewa College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after my sentence. It is my dream to study medicine, but it is not available at a college of education. I was later transferred to a maximum prison in 2016. But due to financial constraints, I couldn’t study my dream course,” he explained.
“However, I was encouraged to train under the medical practitioners in the prison. So, I applied and I was accepted into the medical line in 2017. Since then, I have been working with the nurses, pharmacists and doctors inside the prison.
“I believe I will be free one day, and when I regain my freedom, I will definitely go for medicine. I pray to God to set me free because I am innocent.
“I don’t know anything about the crime I am convicted for. I pray to God to give me the opportunity to prove my innocence to the world and be useful to society. I am not a criminal; I have never stolen anything in my life, not to talk of robbing somebody.”
Osun man on death row for fowl theft shares how police subjected 17-year-old self to torture
metro
Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths
Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths
Stakeholders under the Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) have alleged a well-coordinated international blackmail campaign against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman of Tantita Security Services; Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL); and Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
In a statement issued on Sunday by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, the IYN accused a cabal of oil thieves of sponsoring the campaign to undermine the successes of Tantita Security Services and other security outfits in combating oil theft.
The group specifically condemned a staged protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, describing it as a smear campaign filled with false criminal allegations against Tompolo, Kyari, and Otuaro.
The IYN called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and others entrusted with the nation’s security to ensure a thorough investigation of persons behind the blackmail and bring them to justice in the interest of national security.
The stakeholders also urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be resolute in sustaining the reversal of the evils of oil theft against Nigeria and her citizens.
The IYN stressed that oil thieves and their operatives armed with billions of ill-gotten resources were funding the recurrent attacks on Tompolo, Kyari and Otuaro.
The youths insisted that a virulent cabal of oil thieves with a vast network across international boundaries was on the rampage to orchestrate the campaign targeting the economy of the country and its leadership.
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The IYN said that the oil thieves were pooling resources together with their international collaborators to undermine the President, national security and the nation’s economy.
The group said that it was not unexpected that the deadly cabal that almost ruined the economy of the country by stealing billions of petro dollars would not give up their lucrative crime without a fight.
The IYN said that the achievement of the Tinubu Administration which had been able to attain 1.8m barrels of crude oil per day, after serious efforts into the battle against oil thieves should be protected from such influential, deadly gang.
The IYN added some of those fighting Tompolo, Kyari and Otuaro were persons, who pressed to be appointed Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme without success.
The Ijaw youths groups said that the antecedents of Otuaro and his capacity to deepen consultations and sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta might be hurting those behind the campaign of calumny in the region.
The group called on all sister organizations in the Niger Delta to support the campaign against oil theft, Tantita Security Service Limited, the NNPCL and the PAP leadership.
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The group said: “We are shocked at the extent to which this deadly cabal of oil thieves can go to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against hardworking people carrying out their lawful responsibilities in the Niger Delta.
“Of course, nobody expects a group of extremely wealthy, connected and influential people who has been involved in oil theft, stealing billions for years to go away without resistance.
“The show of shame in front of the UN headquarters is a most reprehensible attack on the country image, the President, national security and our economy.
“The unpatriotic characters are conniving with enemies of Nigeria in their criminal bid to bring back the dark days of oil theft and its impact on the nation’s economy.
“We call on the President, to be firm in sustaining what is good for Nigeria. Tompolo, and Tantita have shown that it is not impossible to stop the menace of oil theft as shown by the daily production of oil to 1.8 million barrels per day,
“We also urge the Mr Kyari and Dr Otuaro to be firm in carrying out their official responsibilities to this great country. That oil thieves are focusing attacks on the, shows in clear terms that their actions are suffocating their evil activities in the region.”
Oil cabal sponsoring blackmails against Tompolo, Otuaro, Kyari, say Ijaw youths
metro
NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
NURTW scribe felicitates Nigerians on Xmas, urges caution
The General Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and compassion as taught through the birth of Jesus Christ.
He stated this in his Christmas and end of the year goodwill message to felicitate members of the union and Nigerians in general.
Agbeyangi urged Nigerians to use the festive season to reflect on the values of love, compassion, and sacrifice that Jesus Christ embodied.
“This period is not for merry making alone; we should also spare time to reflect on the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
“His birth teaches humility, love compassion and sacrifice. As Nigerians, we must show love to our fellow county men. We must love our country. As Nigerians, we must be ready to make sacrifices for the nation.”
The NURTW scribe also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the union and other road users to always exercise caution and adhere to all safety protocols while travelling during the festive season.
“As we celebrate, let us not forget the importance of road safety. The roads can be treacherous, especially during the festive season.
“I urge our members and all road users to drive safely, avoid overspending, overtaking at dangerous bends and overloading, and be courteous to other road users,” he stated.
He also advised drivers that all their vehicle papers should be up to date to avoid embarrassment from law enforcement officers on the highways.
Comrade Agbeyangi prayed for a peaceful and joyous celebration, and wished members of the union and Nigerians, a happy prosperous New Year.
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