Abia State Government has expressed concern over the reported increase in the number of drug addicts receiving treatment and rehabilitation at National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA rehabilitation centre in Aba.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwadinma Ananaba expressed the concern on Friday during a workshop organised at Okwu Olokoro community in Umuahia South LGA, against drug abuse among youths.
The Commissioner who was represented by Ijeoma Ogbonna, lamented that many youths who should be productive in their communities and the state, have been destroyed by drug abuse and drug-induced crimes.
He encouraged Olokoro youths and other young persons in the state to shun illicit drugs consumption but embrace skills acquisition and other employment schemes designed by President Bola Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti.
In their speeches at the workshop, the traditional ruler of Okwu Olokoro, Eze Boniface Izuogu and the President General of Umuoji village, Nnamdi Nwosu regretted the activities of drug peddlers and metal scrap dealers in their community.
The Divisional Crime Officer in charge of Ubakala Police Division, Osinachi Ahana, raised alarm about the high number of crime cases coming from Olokoro villages, saying that the situation has been amplified by drug abuse among Olokoro youths.
He disclosed that three young girls were recently trafficked from Olokoro to Burkina Faso for prostitution but explained that one of the human trafficking victim escaped from Burkina Faso and returned to Nigeria.
Earlier in his lecture, the Assistant Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Frank Nwaohamuo disclosed that about five hundred persons are currently seeking treatment and rehabilitation at NDLEA rehabilitation centre in Aba.
Nwaohamuo said the rehabilitation centre which was designed to handle a maximum of forty cases, now has about five hundred persons coming for treatment and rehabilitation, even as he disclosed that some of inmates suffer relapse after their discharge from the centre.
The Assistant Commander of Narcotics who promised the commitment of NDLEA Abia Command in collaborating with communities in fight against drug abuse, appealed to Okwu Olokoro and Abia youths in general, to shun drug abuse.
Abia govt, monarch express concern as NDLEA rehabilitation centre overflows with inmates in Aba