Drug War has been boosted with a campaign walk by Journalists under the aegis of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, CRAN in Collaboration with NDLEA and NAPTIP.

The walk which had CRAN Members, NDLEA Personnel, NAPTIP Personnel, Policemen, NEMA, LASTMA, Students and others was to commemorate United Nations World Day Against Drug Abuse.

The walk started from Oduduwa in Ikeja GRA area, through Isaac John Street, through Mobolaji Bank Anthony way down to Maryland Bustop and returned to Oduduwa in Ikeja GRA area where CRAN press centre is located.

During the walk, fliers bearing anti-drug abuse message, themed,” Together, We Can Tackle The World Drug Problem!” were distributed, the participants were seen educating passerby, residents, motorists, traders against the danger of drugs as they walk along.

The theme for this year’s United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking says: Share Facts About Drugs and Save Lives’.

While returning back from Maryland, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu coming from Ojota area stopped at Onigbongbo Bustop, area of Maryland where he met the participants walking against drug abuse, commending the efforts.


He decried the unprecedenting effect of drugs among youths and adults in the country.

According to him, Drug is evil, when you see those under the influence of drugs, they keep on killing people, going for robbery and when they are arrested they look like jelly, that is when it has subsided in their body.
He appealed to parents and guardians to monitor movements of their youths, urging them to ask their children who their friends are and what they take in.
Odumosu said parents should check their children’s bag before they go to work and at night.
He opined that failure of parents to discharge their responsibility is contributing to the unprecedented drug menace.
The Police chief also commended the efforts of CRAN in organising the walk, pointing out that drug abuse had negative effects on youths.
Odumosu, while recalling the case of a student currently in Police net for allegedly stabbing a man to death, quoted her as confessing that she took various hard drugs before the act.
“One cannot downplay the negative effects of drugs on our youths. This morning, I read of how a boy killed his father and sold his body to a ritualist.
“At the time he was arrested, he blamed his crime on the influence of drugs. So, it is better we catch them young. What we are doing now is collaboration with the Federal and state governments as well as the society.
NDLEA, Lagos Command, Public Relations Officer, Mallum Musa expressed excitement for being part of the walk, stressing that the fight against drug abuse remained a collective responsibility.
“Without collaboration, the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking will not be won, so I really commend CRAN for putting this together.
“The theme for this year’s UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking says: ‘Share Facts About Drugs and Save Lives’.
“So, today, we have shared facts to the public and these facts that we shared are going to save so many lives from the dangers of drug abuse and illegal trafficking,” he said.
CRAN President, Sunday Odita, said the the menace of drug trafficking should not only be tackled by youths, but everyone as it affected all.
While addressing newsmen, said the decision to key into the UN programme stemmed from the underlying fact that drug abuse and human trafficking had become a horrifying menace that had torn the fabrics of the society, with attendant effect on youths.
He added that the menace of drug trafficking should not only be tackled by youths, but everyone as it affected all.
The CRAN president urged students that participated in the walk to take the campaign against indiscriminate use of drugs to their schools.
“We have to take the campaign to schools now. You students should form clubs to fight this. CRAN is ready to sponsor it. Your teachers will guide you.
You can organise programmes and invite us, we will come to your schools along with NDLEA officials. We need to start catching you young.
“Do not be the one mixing different hard drugs together for consumption. We all need to join hands and together we can tackle the world drug problem,” he said.