Illicit drug dealers get quit notice in Pankshin

Dealers of illicit drugs and substances have received a quit notice from youths, women as well as religious and traditional leaders to leave Pankshin local government area in Plateau State or abandon the business with immediate effect.

The notice came after hundreds of women and youths took to the streets to campaign against the sales and consumption of illicit drugs and substances, especially goskolo, a harmful gin. The crowd had converged at the Nefur arena before walking round Pankshin in a campaign organised by the Pankshin Local Government Council in collaboration with the traditional council, religious groups as well as youth groups and market women.

Chairman of the council, Hon. Danladi Damap told Benue/Plateau Trust that major stakeholders including religious and traditional leaders had held a meeting with representatives of illicit drug dealers after the rally and issued them a quit notice. Damap said the dealers had pleaded for a six month grace period within which to dispose of all their products but the stakeholders had insisted that the business must terminate with immediate effect.

He said already, the council had put in place modalities to commence monitoring compliance which will kick start from Monday, the LG’s market day often associated with large sales of various illicit drugs, substances and gin.

Chairman of Pankshin Youth Council, Chikas Kumle, through her deputy, Nentawe Simon and the Chairman of Pankshin district Youth Council, Yiljura Ndom while lauding the campaign lamented that more than 10 youths from the LG had died to the menace in August alone.

Earlier, member representing Pankshin North in the State House of Assembly, Philip Dasun and the National President of the Ngas Development Association, Ngonen Gofwen pledged to collaborate with the local government to ensure such campaigns are sustained.