The Students’ Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has warned that rising drug abuse and trafficking are major drivers of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes across Northern Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the group, which operates across 19 states in the region, said the growing drug crisis poses a serious threat to security and the future of the North.
CNG National Coordinator, Alhaji Jamilu Aliyu, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State, during a public lecture on Building Responsible Students’ Leadership.
Aliyu said many young people turn to drugs because homes and schools have failed to instil strong moral values.
“All religions in the country strongly forbid drug use, yet the problem keeps increasing every year,” he said.
He cited a recent operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano, where over five million tablets of tramadol were seized, describing the situation as “deeply alarming among the youths and women.”
According to him, moral decadence has pushed many youths toward illegal drugs and other harmful substances such as Indian hemp, skunk and even reptile waste, warning that addiction now threatens the future of the entire region.
He added that drug abuse among students is directly linked to insecurity and criminal activities, stressing that the country can no longer afford to ignore the danger.
Chairman of the public lecture, Alhaji Bulama Mai Gubio, who was represented by the Gubio Local Government Chairman, Hon. Mali Bulama Gubio, also decried the growing trend.
“The North cannot develop if youths keep consuming drugs such as cocaine and Indian hemp,” he said.
He noted that people above 45 years struggle to solve the problem alone, urging young people to take responsibility and lead the change.
The event, themed Building Responsible Students’ Leadership, focused on tackling drug abuse, thuggery, extremism, hate speech and campus violence through mentorship and value reorientation.
Retired military officer, Major Abiya Mohammed, who addressed students from the University of Maiduguri, the College of Health Technology and other institutions, urged them to lead with discipline and positive values.
He warned that campuses across the country are witnessing rising cases of drug abuse, cultism, examination malpractice and hate speech, adding that students must adopt better values to secure their future.
