Youths, under the aegis of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, security chiefs and other stakeholders on Thursday met in Kaduna over the disturbing security situation and proffers solution to the prevailing insecurity.
This is coming on the heels of terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train on Monday night and the Kaduna International Airport.
Eight passengers were said to have died in the train attack while 26 were injured and several passengers still unaccounted for.
At the town hall meeting held at the Kaduna State University, were representatives of the General Officer, Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Commissioner of Police, State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Director of State Security Service, Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency as well as officials of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, traditional rulers among others.
With the theme: ‘Youth development and national security,’ stakeholders at the event organized by Nigerian Youth Parliament in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, stressed the need to gainfully engaged the youths that constitute over 60 per cent of the society so as to stave off kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, insurgency and other related crimes.
Speaking at the meeting, the Zonal Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency in Kaduna, Pius Gamde, attributed activities of kidnappers, terrorists to the influence of illicit drugs.
The Zonal Commander, represented by Kaku Mshelia, Deputy Zonal Commander, Admin and Logistic, insisted that crimes and drug related problems are among contemporary security challenges facing Nigeria today and manifesting among the youths.
He said state command of the agency within the first quarter of the year, (January and March), arrested 175 suspects and seized 1,814.236kg of drugs across the length and breadth of the state.
He explained that these drugs would have caused an unimaginable damage to the peace and well-being of the state if allowed into communities.
The Zonal Commander said:”I am glad to represent the NDLEA at the Youth security town hall meeting organised by the House Committee on Youth Development and the office of the Honourable speaker, House of Representative in partnering with the Nigerian Youth parliament.
“This Town Hall meeting is timely considering the hydra-headed problem of Youth, drug abuse and insecurity that has bedevilled our country for the past one decade.
“The NDLEA Kaduna State Command have successfully prevented and reduced to the minimum the circulation of various forms of drugs from January 2022 to date through the arrest of 175 suspects and seizure of 1,814.236kg of drugs across the length and breadth of the State.
“These drugs would have caused an unimaginable damage to the peace and well-being of the state if allowed to find its ways into our communities as our youth who are the leaders of tomorrow and the backbone of the society would have found easy access to these drugs.
“The growing use of illegal drugs by young people is very harmful to society as indicated in the increase number of crimes across the country.
“That is to say Drug Abuse is a predisposing factor to the commission of many criminal offences such as murder, armed robbery, rape, cultism,terrorism, kidnapping and insurgency in the country.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Prof.Yohanna Teila, noted that youth could be a great security challenge if not well handled.
Represented by the Dean, Students Affairs, Prof. Terhemba Wuam, the Vice Chancellor argued that development and employment could reduce insecurity across the state.
He said, “When there is development and the youth are gainfully engage, security will be tackle. When you improve education, you give everybody tool to address security.
“We need to give job and tackle unemployment. Economy growth is the key to fighting insecurity. If the youths are idle, its a problem.”
Part of resolution at the meeting was among others, was the involvement of traditional rulers in the security architectures.
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