Southeast Communities Declare War on Drugs: Citizens Take Action Where Institutions Fail
By Headlinenews.news Investigative Desk
Communities across the SouthEast have launched an aggressive grassroots campaign against drug abuse, setting up local enforcement teams to raid notorious areas where users gather. The bold initiative — captured in a recent video — shows youths and elders working together to discipline those caught abusing narcotics, including a law enforcement officer who was identified and caned after presenting his police ID.
The incident underscores two realities: the deep anger communities feel about the destruction drugs are wreaking on their children, and the urgent need for institutions to act more decisively. As one community leader put it: “Drugs are killing our future. If the government will not act, we must defend our children ourselves.”
The War Against Drugs
Drug abuse in Nigeria has reached alarming proportions. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), more than 14.4% of Nigeria’s population (14.3 million people aged 15–64) use drugs — more than double the global average of 5.6%. The Southeast, like many regions, faces a growing crisis as young people fall into addiction to cannabis, methamphetamine (locally called “mkpuru mmiri”), and other substances.
This reality has forced communities to rise up. The caning of a police officer — shocking as it is — sends a strong message: no one is above accountability in the fight against drugs. But it also raises critical questions about institutional failure, given that those tasked with protecting society are sometimes complicit in its decay.
The Role of the Police and Institutions
While communities are justified in protecting themselves, corporal punishment is not a sustainable or lawful solution. The police and government agencies must step up:
- The Police Service Commission should immediately investigate officers linked to drug abuse.
- NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) must intensify grassroots interventions.
- Schools, churches, mosques, and local councils should adopt “Say No to Drugs” campaigns as part of civic education.
As the saying goes, “You cannot cure a disease by ignoring it.” Nigeria cannot afford to ignore a drug epidemic that threatens public safety, family stability, and national productivity.
A Call to Action
This is not just a Southeast problem — it is a national emergency. A united front is needed: government, communities, civil society, parents, traditional rulers, and especially the youth.
The campaign must be loud and clear:
Say No to Drugs.
Weed out bad eggs from the police.
Protect our youth from destruction.
As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon once said: “Drugs threaten everything we hold dear. But we have the power to stop this scourge, if we act together.”
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