A Professor of Educational Guidance and Counseling at the University of Kigali, Rwanda, AbdulRasaq Olayinka Oniye has called on the Kwara State Government to enact stringent policy to curtail use of illicit drugs amongst the youths in the state.
Reacting to last weekend intra-group clashes and public disturbance amongst Abemi-Itamerin-Popo Giwa youth groups fighting over a JSS 2 female student identified as Aisha where less than 25 vehicles were allegedly said to have been destroyed, Professor Oniye described it as sad, worrisome, an ugly development and potential recipe for breakdown of law and order.
In an exclusive interview with our staff correspondent, Mahmood Olayinka Alaya, the Marriage, Sex and Family Counseling specialist said such incident must be nipped in the bud so that other youths would not use it as precedent to cause similar act brigade.
“The intra-group clashes and public disturbance which occurred over the weekend around Abemi-Itamerin youth groups fighting over a JSS 2 female student is to say the least worrisome.
“It is an ugly development and potential recipe for breakdown of law and order. It must be nipped in the bud so that other youths do not use it as precedent to cause similar act bringade.
“The youths must have acted under the influence of drug and substance abuse to have acted in such dastardly manner”, he said.
According to him, the youths must have acted under the influence of drug and substance abuse, asking the law enforcement agencies, especially the NDLEA and parents to rise up to identify and deal decisively with the perpetrators of the dastardly act as well as put in place measures to ensure that such never occurs anywhere in the community again.
Professor Oniye wants government in collaboration with the relevant organs to intensify sensitisation against drug and substance abuse and enact stringent policy to curtail use of illicit drugs in the community.
The Dean of Education at the University of Kigali, Rwanda also appealed to Religious and community leaders to join hand with government on due sensitisation of youths and all other citizens to shun drug use and substance abuse.
