Drug abuse among married women on increase - Yobe emir

Emir of Tikau, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Ibn Grema, has spoken of increasing number of married women consuming illicit drugs in his domain, in Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The emir who spoke to newsmen yesterday at his Palace in Sabon Garin Nangere, said the situation was a social menace that had resulted in high divorce rate and breakdown of family values.

“Drug abuse is the major problem within this community. A lot of married women and youths are consuming these illicit substances like tramadol, codeine marijuana. It has got to an extent now that if you go to the local markets in the rural areas you find people selling it openly without any fear,” he said.

The traditional ruler said he and the local government chairman had summoned all their district heads, village heads and ward heads and directed them to form community drug fighting groups to check the activities of drug peddlers in their respective communities.

“We informed the NDLEA officials in our midst that we want to come up with a new approach but we need their own support, so that it will enable us sample some youths to be monitoring the activities of the drug peddlers that bring the substance to the area and sell,” he said

He added that the NDLEA deserved commendation for its efforts even as it was faced with manpower challenges.