The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has initiated a fresh campaign against cultism and drug abuse, targeting students in Rivers State to promote peace and lawful conduct.
The sensitisation programme, held at Den-Bec Group of Schools in Port Harcourt, drew representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), mental health experts, and students of the school.
The Divisional Crime Officer of Rumuodomaya Police Station, Dindara Dadamu, warned participants that cultism remains the quickest route to a prison sentence.
“Whether you are a child, as long as you are twelve years old and above, the law can still act upon you,” Dadamu said.
“You have the option to live according to the law or against the law, but once you live against the law, there is always a punishment.”
He urged students to be cautious of the company they keep, explaining various tactics cultists use to lure and initiate new members, and stressing that ignorance of the law is no defence.
NDLEA representative Mr. Ejiofor Ifeanyi linked cultism strongly to drug abuse, noting its devastating effects on academic performance and young lives.
Also Read: http://Fire Outbreak in Bille From Long-Standing Gas Leak
“You have to be selective; everybody must not be your friend,” Ifeanyi advised.
“If you watch the character of that person, you can say this person cannot be your friend.”
He cautioned students against allowing their parents’ investments in their education to go to waste through drug use, which often leads to violence and community unrest.
Mental health expert Mr. Victor Akeni described cultism and illicit drug abuse as major triggers of mental health disorders.
He noted that cult members live in constant fear of attacks from rival groups, leading to loss of confidence and inability to concentrate on studies.
“As a cult member, you can’t read because you will always be assigned illegal jobs that would lead to breaking the law,” Akeni said.
“Cult members go to rob, they kidnap, they do all sorts of things. If you are in a cult and you do all sorts of things, will you be stable?”
Mrs. Anna West, representing NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, encouraged students to focus on their education and leverage opportunities offered by the internet age rather than distractions like cultism.
“To achieve greatness, you cannot be a cultist. There are only two ends for cultism: number one is jail, and number two is an early grave,” West stated.
She added that involvement in illicit drugs would only limit their potential and prevent them from attaining the comfort and success life offers.
