The Cross River State government has joined forces with the Homeland Security Agency in the Northern Senatorial District and heads of security formations and stakeholders to launch a campaign against social vices in the state.
The campaign, which took the form of a 5km roadwalk on Saturday November 6, aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of drug and substance abuse, cybercrime, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and other social vices.
Cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the Girls Secondary School Agiga, to officially begin the event, Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Otu, represented by the state Deputy Speaker Hon. Sylvester Agabi, emphasized the necessity of the awareness campaign, citing the severe repercussions of crime and criminality on the youth and society at large. Otu stressed the need for young people to shun harmful substances and engage in productive activities, citing the grave personal and societal implications of such vices.
He said the administration is undertaking “bold reforms and empowerment programs”, urging the younger population to take advantage of these initiatives.
“We are saying no to all social vices in our state and so we have taken the campaign to the streets,” he stated, urging youths to “disabuse and desist from using harmful substances” that pose grave personal and societal implications.
The event’s organizer and Director-General of the Homeland Safety and Security Agency in Cross River North, Mr Ralpheal Odu, disclosed that the sensitization drive was necessary to put erring young people back on track, listing cultism, drug abuse and other related vices as major concerns.
Odu identified drug abuse, cultism and alcoholism as first-line crimes, stating that the Homeland Security in the North has committed itself to an aggressive awareness campaign to counter the trend.
The group was later joined by the State Deputy Governor Rt. Honorable Peter Odey represented by Dr Peter Ojie, heads of paramilitary security operations and other critical stakeholders at the Ogoja Local Government Secretariat.
The event was attended by the State Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Ubi Obono, Member representing Ogoja in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Thomas Aruku, Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area, Chris Agbeh, Chairman of the Governing Council of UNICROSS, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, and other dignitaries.
