A University Don, Malam Bala Mohammed, has accused the Igbo as responsible for drug abuse prevalent among youths in the North.
Malam Mohammed, a lecturer with the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano said that available statistics points to at these “unscrupulous Igbo drug dealers as brain behind the scourge”.
The Communication expert said “this is not hate speech, my position was grounded on the available statistics of suspects that have been arrested in connection with supply and distribution of illicit drugs in the North to Igbos”
Mohammed, who made the accusation while presenting a paper at the Kano Youth Summit on Peace Advocacy and Development, organised by Hamisu Magaji Foundation, at Mambayya House, noted that the Igbo made inroads through local collaborators.
In a paper, titled: “Nexus between youth, drugs, crime and insecurity”, Malam Mohammed wondered why drug abuse was not prevalent in the southeast region, but the Igbo people resorted to supply illicit drugs to the northern.
The University Don said “our investigation revealed that drug abuse is beyond normal marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, etc, it has moved to the extent that the medicines we take in order to cure our diseases are now being converted into hard drugs.
Speaking further Malam Mohammed said “we discovered that it is the handiwork of the Igbo people, who connived with the locals to supply the codeine into our region, especially Kano State.
According to him “there are many instances where Igbo were arrested for supplying codeine into Kano and some parts of the north. The cases have been reported on national dailies.
“So, why shouldn’t they take it to their region? Why don’t their youth engage in drug abuse? This is really sad, and we have to rise up to fight this menace, ” he lamented.
He, however blamed the judiciary for its failure to stem the tide by flagrant release of suspects, adding that complacency on their part has not helped the situation.
Bala Mohammed suggested communal help to arrest the scourge, stressing that the menace appeared to have overwhelmed the authority.
In a speech, the chairman, Hamisu Magaji Foundation, said the essence of the summit was to enlighten the youth ahead of the 2019 elections.
He decried that despite youths massive contributions to nation building they have little or no access to leadership positions in the country.
The Kowa Party governorship aspirant also declared that Kano Youth have resolved that any politician above 50 years would not contest for governorship seat, adding that any person above 30 years would not be given the chance to be for legislative seats in the state.
“We will contest for all the political positions come 2019 because we are tired of recycling of leadership in this country.
