Community leaders and stakeholders in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, have raised serious concerns over the growing rate of drug abuse among primary and secondary school students, warning that the situation is fast becoming a social crisis.
Residents say the trend is now visible across major parts of the city, with increasing numbers of school-age children reportedly abandoning classrooms during school hours. Instead of attending lessons, many are said to roam the streets in their uniforms, engaging in activities linked to substance abuse and other risky behaviour.
Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity described a worrying shift in attitude among students, noting that education is gradually losing value among some youths. According to them, drug use is now being normalized among certain groups of school children, who allegedly see it as a form of social belonging rather than a danger.
Further accounts indicate that several hotspots within Asaba have become gathering points for these children. Areas such as Ogbogonogo Market, Ibusa Junction, Market Square, ShopRite Mall, Summit Junction, and Mariam Babangida Road were identified as locations where students are often seen begging for money from motorists and passersby, reportedly to fund their drug habits.
Observers recall that during the administration of former Delta State governor, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, the Delta Edumarshal programme was introduced to address similar challenges by curbing street culture and promoting school attendance among children.
The initiative, widely regarded as effective at the time, helped reduce crime, drug abuse, and truancy while improving discipline and academic performance among students. However, it was later discontinued under the administration of former governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
The programme had focused on preventing juvenile delinquency, encouraging consistent school attendance, and instilling discipline by monitoring children’s movement during school hours. It also played a role in reducing street hawking and other forms of child exploitation.
Stakeholders now argue that since the programme was scrapped, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of school children on the streets during academic hours. They also pointed to a rise in youth-related crime, declining academic performance, and worsening literacy levels across parts of the state.
A former Edumarshal officer, Ajuwa Victor, who spoke in an interview with journalists, described the current level of drug abuse among school children as alarming and in urgent need of intervention. He stressed that both government and security agencies must act decisively to address the issue and hold those contributing to the problem accountable.
Community leaders are therefore calling on the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently revive the Delta Edumarshal initiative. They believe reinstating the programme would help restore discipline, reduce drug abuse, and ensure that children return to classrooms during school hours.
