By Abasi Ita Calabar
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has launched a community-wide sensitization campaign against drug abuse and to promote school enrolment among children in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The initiative, according to the project coordinator, Mr. Ubana Ewa, seeks to raise public awareness on the dangers of drug abuse while encouraging the reintegration of out-of-school children into the education system.
“We want to amplify the voices of out-of-school children and the homeless through this campaign,” Ewa said. “These children have rights that must be protected. Education is a fundamental right, and as a humanitarian body, we must continue to advocate for their inclusion.”
Speaking during the outreach, the President of the Red Barracuda Deck (Ugep Chapter) of NAS, Dr. Ibiang Oka, decried the alarming rate of illicit drug circulation in the community and called for urgent security action.
“The sale and use of illicit drugs have become too common in our communities,” Oka said. “Easy access to these substances promotes insecurity and criminal activities. We urge law enforcement agencies to go after the major distributors and drug barons fueling this menace.”
The Vice President of the Deck, Mr. Ibiang Mathew, described the exercise as part of NAS’s nationwide initiative aimed at reducing youth involvement in drug abuse. He appealed to parents and guardians to intensify guidance and education on the dangers of hard drugs such as “colos,” marijuana, and cocaine.
Commending the association’s effort, a representative of Homeland Security in Ugep, Mr. Okon Ikpi Okon, urged the group to extend its sensitization drive to other rural communities across Yakurr, noting that drug abuse has become a growing concern among rural youths.
The campaign team visited several locations, including Ijiman, Ugep Park, Obol Lopon Roundabout, and Egbijom Market, where they distributed educational materials and engaged residents in interactive sessions on the dangers of substance abuse.