Nkpolu youths flog police officer and two others for alleged drug abuse, vowing to end narcotics in their community through a strict anti-drug campaign.
The fight against drug abuse in Rivers State took a dramatic turn when youths in Nkpolu community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, apprehended three individuals, including a serving police officer, over alleged involvement in hard drugs.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred after the youths raided a suspected drug hideout within the community as part of their ongoing campaign tagged “No to Drug Abuse.”
Those arrested during the operation included a police officer who later identified himself as Joshua Eyong, serving in the Obio/Akpor police division.
In a video that has since gone viral online, Eyong displayed his service identity card and admitted to being an officer but did not contest the allegations made by the youths who apprehended him.
The youth leadership of Nkpolu explained that the campaign against drug abuse was not a sudden reaction but a carefully thought-out community-driven initiative aimed at saving their younger generation.
The Youth President, Owhonda Chamberlain, said the decision was necessary due to the devastating impact drug addiction has had on families in Nkpolu.
According to him, many households in the community have been torn apart because of substance abuse, with young men and women losing their homes and inherited properties in the process.
Chamberlain recounted situations where addicts sold family houses at throwaway prices just to settle debts owed to drug dealers.
“Some of our children do not have homes anymore,” Chamberlain lamented.
“We discovered that after taking drugs worth three million naira, they end up selling their family house for four million naira.
“Out of that amount, the dealer will give them just one million and keep the rest. This is the level of destruction drugs are causing in Nkpolu.”
The Youth President stressed that Nkpolu has collectively resolved that the community will no longer serve as a haven for drug users or peddlers.
He announced that the leadership has instructed young people to remain vigilant and resist any attempt to reintroduce drug trafficking or smoking dens into their environment.
“Nkpolu has decided that there will be no drug dealer and no drug smoker in our community again,” Chamberlain declared.
“If you want to indulge in drugs, go to Rumuaghorlu, go to hotels, but it must not happen here. We have drawn the line.”
The bold action by Nkpolu youths reflects the growing role of community vigilance in tackling social vices in parts of Rivers State.
With drug abuse on the rise, community associations have begun to step in where state and federal authorities appear to be struggling.
Residents of Nkpolu argue that waiting for official enforcement agencies alone will not solve the problem, as many drug dealers operate with impunity, and in some cases, with the alleged protection of corrupt officials.
This was why the arrest of a serving police officer in the recent raid shocked many observers.
Nkpolu’s battle is not isolated. Across Rivers State, reports of drug-related crime, violence, and addiction have been on the rise.
Experts say the widespread availability of narcotics such as methamphetamine (“Mkpuru Mmiri”), marijuana, and codeine-based syrups is fueling a dangerous cycle among young people.
Addiction has been linked to cases of theft, violent outbursts, and even homelessness.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has in recent years intensified its operations across the state, but communities like Nkpolu believe more grassroots involvement is needed to cut off the local supply chains and reduce consumption.
For Nkpolu, the decision to confront drug abuse head-on is about securing the future of its youths and ensuring that families can thrive without fear of losing their children to addiction.
Chamberlain and his fellow leaders say the campaign is also designed to restore dignity to their community and encourage positive lifestyles among young people.
“This fight is not just about discipline,” Chamberlain explained.
“It is about saving lives. It is about giving our youths a future. We cannot sit back and watch drugs destroy everything our parents labored for.”
The Nkpolu initiative has drawn attention across Rivers State, with some observers commending the bravery of the youths while others caution that community-led interventions should be carefully managed to avoid jungle justice.
Still, the campaign continues to send a strong signal that ordinary citizens are no longer willing to remain silent in the face of a drug epidemic that threatens to consume their neighborhoods.
For now, Nkpolu stands as an example of how communities can rise to reclaim their future with or without the full backing of government agencies.