500 youths renounce cultism, drugs

About 500 youths of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have renounced cultism, drug abuse and related crimes.

The repentant cultists, dressed in white jersey, converged on the community town hall from where they marched through major roads in a peaceful procession at the weekend.

Addressing the repentant cultists, a stakeholder in the community, Barrister Obum Osaka, said the campaign on zero tolerance to criminality and drugs was targeted at making the youths useful citizens.

He said the Obiano-led administration had mapped out various entrepreneurship and vocational programmes for youths in the state, adding that the initiator of the campaign, Chief Okonkwo, also earmarked resources as empowerment fund for youths in the area.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alex Onyido, attributed criminal tendencies to unemployment. He called on the Federal Government to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

He advocated the inclusion of programmes to enlighten youths on negative effects of drug abuse, cautioning them to avoid cultism, communal fighting and other social vices.