…Say enough is enough

By Emma Una

CALABAR—In a powerful show of maternal outrage, women in Obubra Local Government Area, Cross River State, took to the streets last weekend, to protest the alarming rate of hard drug abuse among youths.

The protesters, mostly mothers, are fed up with the devastating impact of substance abuse on their children and communities.

Led by Mrs. Caroline Ekpe, a school teacher and mother of five, the women drawn from Onyen Orangha, Nkum Iyala, Akam, Nyametet, Ababene and surrounding communities in Obubra, marched through villages, chanting songs and declaring zero tolerance for drug abuse.

The women cited rampant road crashes, squabbles, pregnancies, and immoral sex among youths under the influence of drugs.

The women declared that the atrocious activities caused  by youths on drug influence are taking a toll not only on themselves but the entire communities and therefore must stop.

Mrs. Ekpe told NDV that the women in the entire Obubra  are highly disturbed about the mental state of their children occasioned by high drug abuse.

She said the women have  taken a stand against the abuse of methamphetamine popularly known as “ice”, shisha, marijuana, tramadol and other illicit drugs in their communities and as such vowed that it must  stop.

“We are mothers and must act now before the situation gets completely out of hand. If our men are looking the other way, the government not concerned and the churches not bothered about what is going on, we the women who gave birth to these children must show them the right way before our communities are completely engulfed in drugs and deviant acts”

“We have imposed a fine of N500,000 on anyone found using or selling banned substances, with threats of ex-communication for non-compliance.

“We have had enough. When they ride motorcycles after taking these drugs, it is like they want to fly and often they end up crashing and killing themselves or maiming others.

“If an elder, even their parents talk to them it is like an ant talking. We certainly cannot continue this way,” she said.

Mrs Ekpe added: “The girls are not left out. They take these things and become something else and before you know it they are pregnant. The burden becomes that of the mother to take care of the mother and the child. Why should that be?

“We know that these drugs are brought from outside to destroy our youths and our communities and our eyes are watching to see who would dare us by bringing drugs here again both at night or in the day.”

The king of the area, Ohorodo, said the women are right and have his support. “They have taken the lead in the battle against hard  drugs.”