UNICEF joins campaign against Borno drug abuse

The United Nations Children Fund has applauded the North East Regional Initiative (NERI) for its vigorous campaign against drug abuse in Borno, urging parents to educate their ward against social vices. Chief of UNICEF field office in Borno, Geoffrey Ijumba charged religious leaders to speak against drug abuse. He was speaking at a workshop organized […]

The United Nations Children Fund has applauded the North East Regional Initiative (NERI) for its vigorous campaign against drug abuse in Borno, urging parents to educate their ward against social vices.

Chief of UNICEF field office in Borno, Geoffrey Ijumba charged religious leaders to speak against drug abuse.

He was speaking at a workshop organized by World Federation For World Peace in partnership with NERI  on "Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign" in Bubalurin and Gwange communities " in Maiduguri.

A high proportion of women and youth across the city, including students of tertiary institutions, working, married women and unemployed girls, are considered hooked on drugs.

"Of course, the other aspect of the problems will be training, support for livelihoods, child upbringing but all these may not be as important as create awareness and educate the children to avoid indulge themselves in illicit drug so I must thank NERI and partners for this campaign against drugs abusers. It is timely,” Ijumba said.

"Also, the way we treat our women, wives, and it lies on how we bring our children up, so when we start treating women with respect, show more love and this kind of something, may take care our problems 50 percent,” said Geoffrey.

“I will  insist that in our homes we should treat our women better and more respect.”

Chief superintendent of narcotics at Borno command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Marcus Ayuba, said the command was greatly concerned about substance abuse.

"if you don’t tackle drugs alongside social vices, it is dangerous and indeed it has been a great challenge for us,” he said.

He said the terrain for tackling substance abuse was difficult, made even more so by the insurgency.

Also, Peace Ambassador Foundation executive director, Amb. Ahmed Shehu lamented that state, national and international actors have overlooked substance abuse, hence much are expected from the leaders.

"There is correlation between substance abuse and music hence we come up with innovative way of sensitizing 200 at-risk women and youth through music. But yet still much needed to be done because the situation is overwhelming," Shehu appealed.

A former addict, Usman Abubakar, told the workshop: "I will like to beg those who abuse these illicit drugs to stop. I was rejected by my family due to disgrace I brought upon them. But now Satan has failed over me life, I am now liman in my area, I have forsaken codeine syrups, tramadol, cannabis and others. I am now a changed person.”