PORT HARCOURT: A police officer serving in Rivers State and two youths were over the weekend arrested and publicly flogged by community youths in Nkpolu, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, over alleged involvement in drug abuse.
The action followed a “No Drug Abuse” campaign launched by Nkpolu community, after rising cases of drug consumption and its devastating impact on local youths.
According to residents, several young people in the area have sold family properties just to sustain their drug habits.
On Saturday, the youth leadership raided a suspected drug den in the community, arresting three persons, including a serving officer identified as Joshua Eyong. Despite presenting his police ID card, Eyong was flogged alongside the other suspects.
Nkpolu Youth president, Owhonda Chamberlain, said the clampdown was part of their resolve to rid the community of drugs.
“There is a campaign going on in our community, led by the youths. We found that some of our children now sell their parents’ hard-earned property just to take drugs. Nkpolu has decided there will be no drug dealer and no drug smoker in this community again,” Chamberlain declared.
He added that anyone who wishes to indulge should “go elsewhere,” stressing that the community would no longer tolerate drug dens within its borders.
Reacting, Rivers Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident had come to their attention through a viral video.
She, however, said the officer involved had denied taking drugs, adding that an investigation has been launched.
