Some stakeholders in Delta have urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out aggressive sensitisation of people in rural communities to check violent crimes in the country.
The stakeholders advised at a town hall meeting organised by the NOA in Asaba on Monday.
The theme of the meeting is: “National Security Sensitisation and Reorientation Programme Against Political Thuggery, Kidnapping, Drug Dependence, Radicalism and Violent Extremism.”
Director for Legal Services, Delta State House Assembly, Mr Smart Edoge stated that some perpetrators engage in crimes willingly and for financial gains.
According to him, not all the crimes identified are influenced by drug abuse.
“Drugs can’t be totally eliminated but it can be brought under control like done in advanced countries.
“NOA needs to do more by taking the sensitisation to the rural communities with visuals on practical examples of the direct impacts of what people suffer for engaging in crimes,” Edoge said.
He noted that the rule of law should be strengthened to check the culture of the survival of the fittest being practised by the political class if thuggery and violence must be checked during elections in the country.
“There is a need to reform and reposition all the security agencies to ensure that the country is on a good footing.
”This is because there is flagrant open abuse of drugs on the streets and it is destroying our youths and not much is being done to check it.
“We must unravel those behind this violent crimes, sponsors of kidnappers in our society and revive moral counselling in schools to check cultism and associate crimes in the institutions and society”, he said.
On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Isaiah Bozimo, represented by Mr Anthony Orhorhoro, Deputy Director in the ministry, called for the strengthening of the law to check political thuggery and drug abuse.
Bozimo said that if existing laws were strengthened and made effective, political thuggery will not continue.
In his welcome address, Mr Chris Anyabuine, Acting State Director, NOA, said some of the identified crimes include, political thuggery, banditry, political and religious radicalism, kidnapping, violent extremism, armed robbery, vandalism and wanton destruction of public property.
“NOA is of the view that no nation can achieve meaningful and sustainable socio-economic development in the face of the prevalence of the atmosphere of the above various crimes in the society.
”NOA as part of its core mandate is charged with the responsibility of positively changing the behaviours, attitude and values of citizens geared toward enhancing their personal and overall development of the nation.
“This town hall meeting, therefore, provides the platform for stakeholders and citizens to share awareness, resources and perspectives on the way forward for resolving our security challenges,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders include representatives of the Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Services, Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Civil Society Organisation.