LAGOS AUGUST 10TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Hard time now awaits sellers and consumers of local gin popular known as kai-kai, indian hemp, and other hard drugs in Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state, as anyone caught taking them will henceforth face criminal charge in the law court.
Chairman of the council, Mr. Festus Ozoemena, who disclosed this weekend at the council headquarters Ogede, during a workshop organized by women from the locality, said hard drug especially gin has done a lot of harm to youths of the LGA.
He said the ban became necessary “because of the enormous damage drinking of local gin and smoking of indian hemp have inflicted on youths and many families in the area”.
African Examiner, recalled that women numbering over 1000 from various communities in the area had recently took to major streets of Nsukka, protesting the alarming sale and consumption of mixed industrial ethanol in native gin in the locality.
The council chairman, explained that the workshop with the theme:” creating awareness on effect of hard drugs and illicit drinks on family health” was aimed at letting consumers of such harmful substances know the dangers it poses to human health.
His words: “the LGA, is solidly behind women in their commendable move to save our youths who are leaders of tomorrow from destruction and untimely death caused by drinking of gin and smoking of hemp.
“Some rape and murder cases by some persons in the area have been linked to consumption of these dangerous items”
The chairman, who spoke through his wife, Mrs. Esther Ozoemena, said the council, would collaborate with the law enforcement agencies in the LGA to enforce section 241, sub section 1 and 2 of Enugu state criminal code which forbids sale and consumption of obnoxious substances.
He stated that “the council would no longer fold its arms Watch gin and india hemp waste our youths and scatter our families”, adding that the local government is determined in ensuring that defaulters are prosecuted in court.