Haruna Abdulrasheed, Emir of Dukku in Gombe state, has alleged that parents give children hard drugs to boost their strength while working on farms.

Mr Abdulrashed, who called for stiffer penalties for drug barons and dealers, said many residents are unaware of its effects.

“We discovered here that most people do not know the effect of drugs. Instead, they give it to their children to assist them in working tirelessly on the farm,” he said in an interview on Monday.

“Gradually, when the children become addicted, the effect turns back on the parent because the children will no longer be productive, thereby getting involved in all forms of crimes,” the emir added.

Mr Abdulrasheed said stiffer penalties for offenders would go a long way in checking criminals’ activities and addressing insecurity in the country, adding that drug abuse often led to crimes.

“I am calling on the authorities concerned to introduce a stiffer punishment for drug barons; this will go a long way in checking crimes in our society,” he said.

According to him, even when apprehended, they will be back in the streets after serving the jail term after some time.

The traditional ruler said he decided to seek the support of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Dukku to embark on a sensitisation campaign on the danger of drugs when he noticed that the problem of drug abuse was becoming unbearable in his domain.

“It is a collective responsibility; let’s assist the relevant authorities to fight the menace of drugs in our society,” he said.

(NAN)