BY CHIJIOKE OYE
Despite the presence of security personnel at Koka Junction in Asaba, drug lords have devised a new tactic—using children to peddle drugs—making it difficult for law enforcement to track their activities, investigations have revealed.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that many children posing as beggars or windscreen cleaners in traffic are being exploited by drug dealers to discreetly transport and sell illicit substances in the area.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that most of these children are of northern origin, with a significant number of suspected Fulani among them. These children, seen begging under the flyover or cleaning vehicles, are reportedly involved in the drug trade, particularly after dark.
One passerby, who gave his name as Sunny, recounted a robbery incident just minutes before the arrival of our correspondent. He said a group of children, including one who had been persistently begging him for money, surrounded him. Four of them pulled out a gun and robbed him of his belongings.
Another witness revealed that drug peddlers cleverly stash their goods in discarded packages by the roadside, disguised as regular trash. These packages contain drugs, cash, Indian hemp, crystal meth (ice), and other illegal substances. The children, under the guise of begging, work with customers who know how to make contact.
Augustine Okoye, a local driver, noted that the number of children, teenagers, and touts sleeping under the flyover is increasing daily. According to him, these individuals not only create a nuisance at night but also attack and rob unsuspecting people.
Okoye called on the government to take swift action, urging security agencies to intensify their efforts to clear out the growing criminal elements under the Koka flyover. He warned that if nothing is done soon, the area could become a haven for criminals.
