The Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has strengthened its partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to tackle drug abuse and its impact on community security in the state.
The partnership was reinforced during a sensitisation programme organised by the NDLEA for Amotekun operatives, focusing on substance abuse prevention, identification of drug-related risks, professional handling of suspected cases and community-based efforts to combat drug use.
The Oyo Amotekun Commandant, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (rtd.), represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Yetunde Adigun, said “continuous training was critical to improving the corps’ capacity to respond effectively to threats affecting communities.”
Olayanju urged personnel to apply the knowledge gained from the training through responsible observation, effective information gathering and cooperation with relevant government agencies.
The NDLEA Staff Officer for Drug Integrity Test in Oyo State, Superintendent of Narcotics, Onjefu Achichi, said; “tackling drug abuse required cooperation among security agencies, families, schools, community leaders and other stakeholders.”
Achichi noted that Amotekun’s close links with local communities could help security personnel identify emerging drug-related problems and provide relevant information to agencies with the expertise to investigate and prosecute such cases.
He cautioned operatives against treating suspicion as evidence, urging them “to verify and properly document information before referring suspected cases to the NDLEA or other competent authorities.”
During the technical session, the NDLEA Staff Officer for Prevention and Sensitisation, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Peter Akinbode, identified peer pressure, curiosity, stress, trauma, unemployment, social pressure and easy access to drugs as factors that could contribute to substance use.
Akinbode urged the operatives to avoid stigmatising suspected drug users, advising them instead to follow established procedures for documenting, verifying and referring cases.
He also introduced the See, Assess, Facilitate Safety, Escalate Appropriately, Record and Refer (S.A.F.E.R.) response model as a framework for handling drug-related incidents.
The model, he explained, would help operatives assess situations appropriately, prioritise safety, document relevant information and refer cases to the appropriate authorities.
The participants emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration and community engagement in preventing drug abuse and addressing its effects on public safety.
The agencies agreed that sustained cooperation, continuous training and effective information sharing would be essential to identifying drug-related threats early and strengthening efforts to curb substance abuse across Oyo State.
