The Nigerian Army's Sector 2, Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), recently organized an awareness campaign on the dangers of drug and substance abuse for students in Yobe State. The campaign, held at Government Girls Unity College in Damaturu, was led by the Commander, Sector 2 OPHK, Brigadier General Edet Effiong. The event brought together over 300 students from schools across Yobe State.
The awareness campaign, themed “Education as a Strategic Tool for Combating Drugs and Substance Abuse: Impact on National Security,” aimed to educate students on the risks associated with drug abuse. Brigadier General Edet Effiong, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasized that drug abuse is a threat to the well-being and future of young people. He noted that its consequences can extend beyond individuals to families, communities, and national security.
During the campaign, Brigadier General Effiong urged the students to make positive choices and rely on education and discipline to resist harmful substances. He emphasized that education, discipline, and positive choices must be their defense against harmful substances. The Sector Commander also highlighted the importance of preventing drug abuse in broader efforts to deny criminal and terrorist networks opportunities to exploit vulnerable young people.
The Nigerian Army's initiative forms part of its non-kinetic component of ongoing efforts within the Joint Operations Area to address factors capable of fuelling crime and insecurity. Through continued engagement with schools, communities, and relevant agencies, Sector 2 OPHK aims to complement military operations with preventive initiatives aimed at strengthening public awareness, community resilience, and long-term security.
The Special Guest of Honour and Director of Schools Management, Yobe State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Idriss Mohammed Fune, commended the initiative and urged the students to spread the anti-drug message within their communities. He encouraged the students to extend the anti-drug message to their peers, families, and communities, while also calling on educators to sustain awareness of the dangers of substance abuse in schools.
The programme featured presentations by facilitators from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the students received writing materials and souvenirs. The awareness campaign is part of the Nigerian Army's commitment to initiatives that strengthen community resilience through constructive engagement with young people and collaboration with relevant government agencies.
The Nigerian Army's effort to raise awareness among students in Yobe State on the dangers of drug and substance abuse is a significant step towards preventing substance abuse and promoting national security. The campaign's impact is expected to be long-term, as it aims to empower young people with the knowledge and skills to make positive choices and resist harmful substances.
Key points
- The Nigerian Army has organized an awareness campaign on the dangers of drug and substance abuse for over 300 students in Yobe State.
- The campaign aimed to educate students on the risks associated with drug abuse and its impact on national security.
- The Nigerian Army's initiative forms part of its non-kinetic component of ongoing efforts to address factors capable of fuelling crime and insecurity.
