SAVING EKITI FROM DRUG PEDDLERS

Of all the states in the federation, Ekiti prides itself as the
"Fountain of Knowledge". This is because virtually every family in
the state claims to have a professor or a doctoral degree holder.

The state is also famous for producing some of the best intellectuals
in the academia, including Dr. Mojola Agbebi, the first Ph.D. holder
in Africa in 1867.

It is also famed for producing the first woman B.Sc degree holder in
1946, Lady Deborah Jibowu, and Nigeria's first indigenous permanent
secretary, J.B. Daramola, in 1948.

Chief Barnabas Adigun, a retired teacher, says it is no exaggeration
that the state, at a time, had "at least one professor per square
electric pole".

But to many analysts today, this aphorisms now belong to the past.

Available records from the Federal Ministry of Education rates Ekiti
as "one of the poorest performing states" in the WAEC and NECO
examinations in the past few years.

The reversal in its academic fortunes is not the only issue that is
of concern to the state government.

Today, Ekiti like most other states, is faced with a myriad of other
social problems, including armed robbery, political thuggery,
violence and riots.

Perhaps, the most disturbing of the social malaise in the state is
its recent notoriety as a "centre for drug peddling".

The state NDLEA commander, Mr Beni Ikani, says the state has become a
transit home for "all kinds of illicit drugs".

Ikani's claim is corroborated by the police and other security
agencies, including the Customs, Immigration, as well as the National
Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Last week, for instance, Ikani announced that 28 drug suspects were
apprehended in less than a month.

According to him, 17 of the suspects were found guilty and convicted.

Also in late February, the NDLEA official paraded a 75-year-old man,
Hassan Fatayo, for alleged possession of several bags of cannabis,
also known as Indian hemp.

Fatayo was arrested at Iworoko-Ekiti. Also paraded was one Dominic
Fabunmi, who was apprehended at Ise-Ekiti with 30 bags of Indian
hemp, weighing about 273.8 kilograms.

Early in the month, the NDLEA arrested a 19-year-old man, Monday Nse,
for allegedly possessing 8.5 kilograms of cannabis at Igbole-Ekiti, a
village near the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti.

Ikani says that his men were hunting for some youth who escaped when
NDLEA officials swooped on their hideout and intercepted 459
kilograms of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

Officials of the Agency recently swooped on a warehouse at Mise
village following a tip-off and intercepted five trailers loaded with
bags of suspected Indian hemp.

Ikani describes the finding as a big catch and a major breakthrough,
but regrets that the culprits escaped.

"We have briefed Gov. Segun Oni on the situation, but we are really
worried that the sale and consumption of hard drugs is going to
destroy the state.

"This is especially so if we realise that the consumption of drugs is
the catalyst of all violent crimes in any society," he said.

The NDLEA commander expresses shock that Ekiti, noted for a "very low
crime rate in the past," had allowed drug business to thrive among its people.

An official of a private security firm, Mr Akin Ogedengbe, decries
the trend, and wants government to take urgent steps to check it.

"The youth already addicted to illicit drug business fall into the
most virile segment of the population.

"They are supposed to be preparing for leadership of tomorrow; the
future belongs to them.

"It is suicidal for parents and the government to fold their hands
and allow such a crucial segment of the society to self-destruct," he said.

A top police official who craved anonymity, says that the trend must
be checked. "Apart from destroying the future, drugs provide ready
fuel and tonic for dare devil criminals to carry out their dastardly
acts like robberies, killings, rape and terrorism," he said.

Analysts, while agreeing with the police official, however argue that
checking the trend should not be left to government alone.

According to Ikani, the NDLEA will do its best, but cannot tackle the
problem alone.

'The society must look into why the drugs remain attractive. We must
first tackle the problem from the point of the consumer", he said.

Mr Sylvester Odion, a sociologist, believes that society must look
into the reasons why a young man will need such drugs.

'Many of such youths are idle and are normally tempted to join gangs
engaged in robbery and political thuggery; you cannot do these
without taking hard drugs.

'So the primary approach will be to get them engaged. Once they are
involved in productive ventures, they will find the drug option less
attractive," Odion said.

Dr Mohammed Usman, a university lecturer, however says that
government must develop the political will to allow the prosecution
of well-placed individuals once they are caught.

"The reports we get is that many of those arrested are hardly
prosecuted because the barons make it impossible after making contact
with top government officials.

"This should never be encouraged as it is also a threat to informers
of the NDLEA," he said.

In the meantime, analysts while lauding efforts by the NDLEA in
arresting the suspects and their consignment in Ekiti, have suggested
appropriate punishment for offenders. "When that happens, others with
same intention will be declared", they say.

Aridodola writes for NAN.