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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Traditional Ruler of Okpoama Community in Brass Council Area of Bayelsa State, the Amayanabo of Okpoama Kingdom, HRM, King Emmanuel Ebitimi Banigo, Okpoama XXI has sanctioned the raid on spots used by drug peddlers, as well as the flogging of youths found indecently dressed in the area.
The community youths and chiefs, led by the chairman of the chiefs council, Chief Inikio Sam Sele-Dede, while carrying out the directive of the monarch demolished fourteen drug peddling points and illicit drugs suspected to be cannabis popularly known as India Hemp, benzos, cocaine, LSD and codeine were found and seized.
Port Harcourt Mundial gathered that the decision to move against the illicit drug spots in the community was provoked by the rising drug use of youths within the community with “unprovoked tendencies for violence and shabbily dressing.”
Our correspondent also gathered that the raid, which was carried out in the early hours of Sunday, May 1, 2022 was welcomed with jubilation among the community folks who joined the team to effect the demolition of the illicit drug spots.
A source within Okpoama community confirmed that scores of youths “with strange haircuts and saggy trouser dressing were apprehended and hair style shaved. The culprits were subjected to cutting of hair and flogging.”
Speaking at end of the exercise, Chief Inikio Sam Sele-Dede said Okpoama has forbidden drug peddling and consumption, adding that anybody caught will be handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.
He commented the resilience and commitment of the people of the community in checking drug peddling and consumption, and called on hard drug dealers to keep off the community.
