Hold community leaders, security agencies responsible for increasing rate of drug trafficking in Delta – Rights group

National Coordinator, Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement (ISRCA) AKA “No Justice, No Peace,” Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, has said security agencies and community leaders were to blame for the increasing rate of drug trafficking in Delta State.

Agberen who made the assertion in a statement on Monday, called on the Delta State Government to hold them accountable for this trend.

He added: “It becomes pertinent for leadership of all communities in Delta State to take decisive actions against the sale of drugs, colorado in particular, a suspected hard drug perceived to have some detrimental influence on youths, causing them to behave in an unusual manner amongst others in present day society.

“Its negative effects on young people cannot be overstated as it has resulted in users exhibiting unusual behaviour, potentially leading to possession by unidentified entities, and in extreme cases, culminating in murder or death following its usage.”

He said further: “While it has become so rampant in the society, the Delta State Government shouldn’t hesitate but hold leaders in various communities for aiding and abating suspected drug dealers racketeering the sales of its substance, considering the threat it poses to the society. To an extent, if these dealers can be stopped, certain crimes would reduce. Going forward, dealers of hard drug substances can give the police lead to apprehending most criminals giving to it, that they are major patronizers going by increased crime rates.”

Agberen also alleged “that most of these drug dealers selling this illicit products get covering from community leaders and security agencies as some sort settlements, to enable them carry out its sales.

“These allegations have made it so impossible in curtailing the excessiveness of drug trafficking and its increasing usages.

“It should be recalled that there have been numerous instances in the State where individuals with erratic behavior, due to substance abuse, have committed crimes, as seen in the case of a 23-year-old man identified as Success, who allegedly slaughtered his father for refusing to provide him with money to purchase hàrd drùgs in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State earlier in January 2025.

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“However, the Delta State Government ably led by her governor, his excellency; Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, should implement sufficient stringent measures against community leaders and security agencies suspected to be complicit in aiding and abetting dealers of illicit drugs in every community across the Local Government Areas in the State,” he noted.