Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has advocated a multi-faceted approach with intelligence-driven strategies in combating drug abuse.
Otti spoke on Thursday when he received a delegation of the new State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nnadi Wilfred, in Nvosi in the Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state.
He frowned at the evolving nature of the drug menace and its impacts on criminal activities in the country.
The governor also underscored the need for collaborative efforts between government and security agencies in combating all forms of crime and drug-related offences, assuring that the state government would give the needed support to fight all forms of criminality in the state.
According to him, the fight against drugs has metamorphosed into something a bit more difficult because society is now dealing with a wide range of issues.
“When you look at crime and drug, you’ll see that they are closely related. You will find out that in a lot of cases, people who get involved in crime and criminality start with drugs.
“So, whether you are Army, Navy, DSS, we are all one. Anywhere we need to give support, you don’t even need to ask. You can count on the government to give you support so that we can rid this place of criminals” Otti stated.
The governor, who renewed his administration’s commitment and support to security agencies in their efforts to ensure a safe and secure environment, recommended that the team meet with his Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security to collaborate, identify, and eliminate possible hotspots in the state.
The governor also emphasized the role of education in crime prevention and expressed optimism that with the free and compulsory education for school-aged children in primary and secondary school, children vulnerable to drug abuse and criminality will reduce significantly.
Earlier, the State Commander, NDLEA, said that he came on a familiarisation visit, having resumed as the NDLEA Commander last December.
He expressed his gratitude to Otti and his wife, Priscilla, for their involvement in carrying out awareness campaigns against drug abuse as well as the rehabilitation of illicit drug users.
