Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has affirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating crime and ensuring the safety of citizens. Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, during the opening of a one-day sensitization campaign against cultism and drug addiction organized by the Abia State Orientation Agency, Otti emphasized the need to address criminal activities.
“No amount of alcoholism, drug addiction, or any form of consumption can justify actions against the law. We are resolute in eliminating crime and criminality, making our state safe for citizens and visitors,” Otti declared.
The governor underscored the importance of the campaign, highlighting the necessity of educating everyone about the consequences of cultism and drug addiction. Otti expressed concern about the close association of armed robbery, kidnapping, abductions, violent crimes, and banditry with cultism and drug addiction.
During the event, Otti urged participants to take the sensitization campaign seriously and disseminate knowledge about the dangers of cultism and drug addiction to others. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DCP Sani Shuaibu, commended the campaign’s timeliness and pledged the police’s readiness to collaborate with other agencies and the Abia State Government in tackling the challenges of cultism and drug addiction.
The Director General of the Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, highlighted the perils associated with cultism and drug addiction. He expressed optimism that the campaign would foster a cross-fertilization of ideas and offer solutions to combat these issues.
The Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, delivered a keynote lecture on “Building a New Abia Through Responsible Citizenship.” Prof. Iwe identified challenges facing youths, such as unemployment, inadequate revenue generation, and a weak industrial base, emphasizing the necessity for responsible citizenship, particularly among the youth.