Kunle Adelabu
-Pledges continuous support for NDLEA
The first Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, has revealed that Ikorodu Division is tackling the security challenges being posed by drug abuse and addiction, cultism and landgrabing through the use of the local vigilance group.
Oba Shotobi made this statement during the courtesy visit by the new State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Barr. Fred Ezeorah, to his palace in Ikorodu on Thursday, October 31, 2019.
He enjoined the agency to adopt community approach in tackling the menace of drug abuse and addiction.
The royal father also gave the agency’s war against drugs in Ikorodu a boost during the visit by pledging the continuous support of the palace for NDLEA.
He also enjoined the agency to work in partnership with the Onyabo Vigilance Group, which he said has been helpful in containing the menace of drugs, cultism and land grabbing across Ikorodu division.
“Drug, cultism and landgrabbng are major security threats confronting Ikorodu. The land grabbers are the ones making use of cultists and giving them drugs but we have curtailed their excesses through the use of our local vigilance group”, Oba Shotobi stated.
He restated his advocacy for full implementation of community policing to combat insurgency and other security challenges confronting the country.
“NDLEA leadership has been discharging their duties especially in Ikorodu but they cannot do without local intelligence.
“The best way to combat insurgence, kidnaping, drugs and other security challenges is through community policing and I enjoin NDLEA in Ikorodu to adopt this method in dealing with drug cases”.
Oba Shotobi, while commending the Commander of the agency in Ikorodu, also recommended Onyabo Vigilance Group to the agency as the local security outfit that has been providing intelligence for other security agencies and assisting in combating crimes in the community.
Earlier, Barr. Fred Ezeorah, the new NDLEA Commandant in Lagos State, stated that he and his team are on the visit to thank the palace for the support the command has been receiving in Ikorodu and also seek for more support.
“We are here because we have been hearing good news from our commandant in Ikorodu about the good relationship agency has been enjoying from the palace and Ikorodu people” , Barr. Ezeorah stated.
“We are here to further ensure that our team here work towards making drugs a no-go area for the youths.
“Our duty is to bring peace to Ikorodu and ensure that our youths do not engage in drugs”.
He called on the people in the community to always call the attention of the agency whenever they detect that someone is selling or introducing their wards to drugs.
Barr. Ezeorah stated that the agency has been visiting communities and schools to talk about negative consequences of drugs to youths and other members of the community in an attempt to discourage the use of banned substances.
‘Kabiyesi has been a very good father according to what we have been hearing from our commandant here. We are soliciting for continuous support and assistance from the palace”, NDLEA State Commandant requested.
Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab, a Professor emeritus, who also spoke during the visit, stated:
“The issue of drugs is disturbing everybody today because of its effects on the youths and the society at large”.
He stated that youths do not need drugs to feel high and that drug abuse and addiction shatter brains and do not do any good at all while saying that there is no happiness in doing drugs.
The scholar, while stating that the Ayangbure palace attached serious importance to the issue of security, also added that the palace recently inaugurated the Ikorodu Security Council to address security challenges in Ikorodu.
“Kabiyesi has been a very good father from all that we have been hearing from our commandant here. We ae soliciting for continuous support and assistance from the palace” NDLEA State Commandant requested.
