In a heartfelt plea, Hon. Oghenedoro Owoso, the Council Chairman of Ethiope West Local Government Area in Delta State, has called upon the elders and chiefs of the land to take decisive action against the escalating issue of hard drug abuse among the youth.
During a visitation tour aimed at curbing crime in the area, Owoso emphasized the importance of dialogue with the community’s leaders to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for development to flourish.
The chairman highlighted the urgent need to address the intake and abuse of hard drugs, linking it to the rise in crime within the community. He stressed that for the locality to benefit from the development agenda of Governor Sheriff Oberevwori’s administration, promoting peace was paramount.
“I have come to appeal to you, our respected fathers, to use your influence to dissuade our children and youth from falling into the clutches of hard drugs that can irreversibly damage their lives. Drug abuse is also a major contributing factor to the escalating crime rate,” stated the chairman.
Owoso also acknowledged the potential of the local youth population, highlighting their intelligence and capacity to contribute to the building of a healthy society. However, the chairman cautioned that drug abuse could lead them astray, causing unrest and driving them towards criminal activities.
The Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, HRM Noble Eshemita, expressed his gratitude to the chairman for the visit, recognizing its significance in reestablishing a collaborative relationship between the local government council and the traditional authorities. He emphasized the need to find effective solutions to combat crime in the area.
Similarly, HRM Sunday Okpurhe, the Ovie of Mosogar kingdom, welcomed the visit, pledging his support to the chairman in restoring order and facilitating further development in the community.
Chief Stephen Egbivwie, the unugbrogodo of Ogharefe, conveyed his concerns about the alarming crime rate in the area. He attributed the surge in criminal activities to the widespread abuse of hard drugs. Egbivwie appealed to the council chairman to collaborate with the police in combating this menace.
