Edo raises alarm over drug abuse, says menace destroying lives

The Edo State Government has raised the alarm over the increasing prevalence of drug and substance abuse in the state, warning that the menace is destroying lives and threatening the future of young people.

The Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, stated this on Saturday at the maiden Okpebholo/Marwa Mini Marathon Against Drug Abuse organised for secondary school students in Benin City.

Idahosa, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pius Alile, said the fight against drug abuse should not be targeted at youths alone, stressing that people across different age groups and social classes are involved.

He said, “Drug abuse is not an issue for our young people alone. Our young people should not be labelled in that direction. Drug abuse is related to all ages.”

The deputy governor added that drug abuse also exists among members of the middle class and prominent people in society, urging stakeholders to adopt an inclusive approach in tackling the menace.

He described drug abuse as a major threat to Edo State, noting that it had destroyed many lives and was contributing to the deterioration of the prospects of young people.

“Drug abuse has destroyed a lot of people, particularly in Edo State where it has become very rampant. It is killing our people, and it is destroying our generation and our youth as well,” he said.

Idahosa commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for using sports as part of its campaign against drug abuse and urged stakeholders to sustain similar initiatives.

He said programmes designed to engage young people would help broaden awareness about the dangers associated with substance abuse.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Monday Okpebholo on Drug and Illicit Trafficking Control, Andrew Efe, said the state government remained committed to prevention, awareness and collaboration with relevant agencies in tackling drug abuse.

Efe said the fight against illicit drugs was not limited to the control of substances but also involved protecting the future of the state.

He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, schools, traditional and religious institutions, parents, communities and young people.

Earlier, the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, described the marathon as the first of its kind in Nigeria dedicated solely to secondary school students.

He said the initiative was designed to make anti-drug messages more engaging and relatable to young people, adding that the campaign against substance abuse should go beyond arrests and prosecution.

The development comes amid continued enforcement activities by the NDLEA in Edo State. In August 2026, the agency said it arrested 68 suspected drug traffickers and seized more than 7,500 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the state.