National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ebonyi Command, on Wednesday said it successfully rehabilitated more than 75 drug addicts in the state in 2016.

Its State Commander, Ralph Igwenagu said in Okposi Community of Ohaozara Local Government Area during a 10km walk organised by the community against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.

Igwenagu, who spoke through command’s Head of Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Aliyu Omama said the rehabilitated victims had been effectively reintegrated into the society, saying they would continue to offer succour to drug addicts and avail them with professional counselling and rehabilitation to make them useful to themselves and the society.

According to him, the increasing cases of kidnapping, rape, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes can be traced to the high intake of illicit drugs and other harmful substances.

Igwenagu said about 95 per cent of prison inmates across the country could be linked to drug related offences, putting the society at high risk, saying this should make stakeholders increase enlightenment campaigns and programmes, especially to encourage youths to shun the intake of illicit drugs and make the society safer.

President of Okposi Ezi n’Asato (E-8), a socio-cultural organisation in the area, Emenike Okorie, said the event was organised to highlight the rising cases of cultism and drug abuse in the community.

According to him, the youth were most vulnerable to such vices, necessitating the need to curb the trend among future leaders of the community.

This organisation and the entire Okposi community are determined to partner with individuals, groups and agencies to rescue the community from the menace of drug abuse and other vices.

Traditional ruler of Okposi Autonomous Community, Chief Cosmas Agwu, urged the people to shun vices that would be detrimental to the community’s development.

The participants carried placards bearing various inscriptions, including “Say no to cultism, it has ruined many’’, “Cultism and drugs will ruin your life’’, “Only hard work guarantees success’’, among others.