COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP FORUM IN MINNA CONDUCTS AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME FREE SOCIETY TOWARDS THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
Community Safety Partnership as the name implies is a forum made up of various stakeholders and interest groups in the communities that come together to work and address issues of safety and security. As part of its plan in supporting the reduction of crime in their communities, the CSP in Minna under the jurisdiction of the ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria police, Paiko road, Minna organized an awareness campaign on effects of Drug Abuse and Crime free society.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the division, CSP Joshua A. Mkpat in his submission stated that there has been increase in drug related crimes in his jurisdiction, which has led to the arrest of 20 youth suspects within one month. He found the awareness very timely and advised parents and community leaders to take home the message to their children, educating them on the dangers of drug abuse. He also asserted that the fight against drug related offences should be collective and not left for the police alone.
The Community Policing officer in the state ASP Bala Elkana, while addressing the participants noted the awareness was as a result of the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in establishing CSP to support in curbing crime in the society. He also noted that the awareness was based on the survey carried out in collaboration with the Community Policing department of the police division on problems affecting the safety and security of the communities. He said that the five communities that fall under the division are expected to benefit from the campaign programme, as it was meant to educate the youths on drugs considering that they are the most vulnerable ones in the society.
A highlight of the campaign were paper presentations on drug abuse related crime by Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).