BY WARIYAI DANIEL, YENAGOA
Traditional Ruler of the 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 and flogging of boys 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.
New National Star gathered that the decision to move against the illicit drug spots in the community was provoked by the rising drug use of boys within the community with unprovoked tendencies for violence and shabbily dressing.
New National Star gathered that the raid, which was carried out in the early hours of Sunday, May 1st, was welcomed by jubilation amongst 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 hair cuts and saggy trouser dressing were apprehended and hairstyles 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, saying 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.