By Ajuwa Victor
Community leaders / stakeholders in Asaba , Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State has raised alarm over drug abuse both primary and secondary school children in the society.
According to sources who crave condition of anonymity said that school children both primary and secondary no longer attend class / taking their studies serious.
The sources maintained that school children now avert themselves into drug abuse as part of their study and move over the street with their school uniform during school hours.
Another sources who also spoke on condition of anonymity said that school children no longer go to school because they believed that going to school is not the right option, but taking drugs is the right desire.
The said sources added that, Ogbogonogo Market, Ibusa Junction, Market Square, ShopRite Mall, Summit Junction, Mariam Babangida Road, within Asaba are strategic places you find the school children begging for money from motorists and passerby just for the purpose to take drug because they have been addicted on it.
It would be recalled that, under the former governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan who introduced the DELTA EDUMARSHAL to combat street culture and promote education among school aged children.
The said initiative successfully kept children in school, reduce crime rate, cultism, drug abuse during school hours and improving academic performance. However, it was discontinued by Ex – Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa administration.
The objective and achievement of Delta Edumarshal aimed to:
1). Prevent crime, keeping the children in school reduced juvenile delinquency, drug abuse and prostitution.
2). Enhance Education, ensured regular school attendance, improving literacy and academic performance.
3). Instill Discipline, promoted better morals by reducing street loitering. And also monitored streets, ensuring children attended school during instructional hours.
Since the discontinuation of Delta Edumarshal by Ex – governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, they have been increased street activity by school children hawking during school hours, higher crime rate, educational decline, poorer academic performance and lower literacy rates.
In the same vein, some traditional rulers named withheld who spoke with journalists in an interview said that, the high rate of drug abuse by school children in the society has become alarming.
They said that government has to take drastic actions even the security agency by making sure that anyone found guilty be brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
While calling on Delta State governor, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori to revive Delta Edumarshal back to duty to checkmate the school children and ensure regular school attendance during instructional hours.
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