There was drama in Nkpolu community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, as irate youths apprehended and flogged a serving police officer alongside two other men for alleged involvement in hard drug abuse.
According to reports, the incident occurred during a community-led campaign tagged “No to Drug Abuse” initiated by the Nkpolu youth leadership in response to the alarming rise of drug-related cases in the area.
Eyewitnesses said the youths stormed a suspected drug hideout where they arrested the three men, including a police officer later identified as Joshua Eyong, attached to the Obio/Akpor Division. In a viral video from the scene, Eyong displayed his service identity card but did not deny the allegations leveled against him.
Speaking on the development, the Youth President of Nkpolu, Owhonda Chamberlain, explained that the action was part of efforts to rid the community of the menace of drugs. He lamented that drug abuse has destroyed many lives in the area, with several young people losing their homes and family properties due to addiction.
Chamberlain narrated that some addicts trade off houses and valuable assets for paltry sums after being hooked on drugs, stressing that the community had resolved to ban both dealers and users from operating in Nkpolu.
“There is a campaign going on in our community headed by the youths of Nkpolu, following the powers given to me as the youth president to ensure that there are no drugs in our community,” he said. “We discovered that some of our children do not have homes. What they do is that after taking drugs worth millions, they end up selling their property for less just to satisfy their addiction.
