By: Theresa Moses
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa on Tuesday commended the efforts of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) in organizing a Road Walk against Drug Abuse, Cultism and Domestic and sexual violence.
The Walk was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Bassey Ewah, at the Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, with the involvement of NDLEA, FRSC, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, and Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, amongst others.
Speaking to participants and journalists, the CP said it is good to sensitize Lagosians on the dangers of drugs, cultism, and domestic violence. He also expressed his hope that people would become wiser and make better decisions with what they were doing.
“You can imagine what a drunken driver can do under the influence of alcohol with what you are doing; we are halfway there. We are behind you 100%,” he said.
“This Command is willing to work with you to tackle these societal issues, and we will do our best to reduce the problem to the barest minimum. I am specially delighted that my brothers from NDLEA and others are here.”
The President of NAOSNP, Mr. Samson Oki, said that the Walk was necessary to drive home the need to control drug use and cultism, especially among young people, as well as Domestic violence, which is prevalent in some households.
He added that because of the unique circumstances of our state, one of the biggest challenges security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police face is the problem of cultism, Domestic Violence, and drug abuse, which are always at the top of the news agenda.
“We are worried about the future of many of our young people and feel that we cannot continue to be on the sidelines without contributing our fair share to the fight against drug abuse, cultism, and Domestic Violence. We must tackle this scourge that has penetrated deep into some of our young people.
“Our walk is to support the efforts of the Nigerian Police, the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other agencies in the fight against crimes against humanity.
“We are embarking on this walk from the Lagos State Police Headquarters and would end at the House of Assembly, where a communiqué was submitted to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudasiru Obasa.
A representative of the NDLEA Commander, Lagos State, the Deputy Commander of Narcotics, DCN Kazeem Makinde, expressed his delight at the initiative of the Journalists Walk to sensitize people about the dangers of drug abuse, cultism, and domestic violence.
He pledged his unwavering support, saying, “Our doors are open to you. We know the full range of effects of drug abuse, from physical to psychological and social.”
He added that drug use can be linked to banditry, terrorism, and other forms of crime because it pushes people to misbehave badly.
“In collaboration with you and what we are already doing with the Army and Police, we would continue to fight this war to the highest degree and achieve victory,” he said.
The carnival-style walks were led by program officer Ogunse Opemipo and other officers from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, FRSC, victims of domestic abuse, journalists, and stakeholders.
The walk lasted for more than three hours and covered a distance of more than 5 km, beginning from the Police Command, High Court, LASUTH, Ikeja Under Bridge, Allen Avenue junction, and eventually terminating at the Complex, Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja.
The lead sponsor, the Managing Director of leading sports equipment company, Zenith Sports Limited and its subsidiary, Haggai Sports, Mr. Paul Maduakor, called on all and sundry, especially men and boys, survivors of drugs abuse and domestic violence to join the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) Walk Against Drug Abuse, Cultism and Domestic Violence and support the drive.
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