By Friday Oche, Jos
For many residents of Jos, the sight of police officers raiding notorious drug hotspots is becoming increasingly familiar. Behind every arrest, however, lies a deeper story—one of shattered dreams, broken families, lost opportunities, and communities struggling with the consequences of drug abuse.
The recent arrest of 25 suspects during a coordinated operation by the Plateau State Police Command at Old Airport Junction and Fwavei Junction has once again brought the issue of cannabis and illicit drug use into sharp focus. While law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on drug peddlers and users, experts and community leaders warn that the battle extends far beyond arrests.
Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana or Indian hemp, is often portrayed by users as harmless recreation. Yet, many families in Plateau State tell a different story.
In the bustling streets of Jos, a mother of four, who asked not to be named, recalls how her teenage son gradually changed after becoming involved with friends who smoked cannabis.
“He was once a brilliant student,” she said. “But he became withdrawn, aggressive, and stopped attending classes regularly. Eventually, he dropped out of school. We spent years trying to help him recover.”
Her story is not unique. Across many communities, parents are watching helplessly as drug abuse steals the future of their children.
Health professionals warn that regular cannabis use can affect brain development, particularly among young people whose brains are still growing. Users may experience memory loss, poor concentration, impaired judgment, and reduced motivation. In severe cases, prolonged abuse has been linked to mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and psychotic episodes.
For employers and educators, the consequences are equally troubling.
A secondary school teacher in Jos described how students under the influence often struggle academically and exhibit disruptive behaviour.
“They lose interest in learning,” he said. “Many of them start skipping classes, while others become involved in fights and other forms of misconduct.”
Community leaders say drug abuse is also fueling other criminal activities. According to security experts, many young people involved in theft, violent crimes, cybercrime, and gang-related activities are often under the influence of drugs or rely on drug trafficking as a source of income.
This connection between drug abuse and crime partly explains why the Plateau State Police Command has intensified operations against drug hotspots.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, confirmed that a joint security team comprising officers from the Violence Crime Response Unit, Anglo-Jos Division, Anti-Cybercrime and Narcotic Unit, Monitoring Unit, and Eagle Eye Patrol Team conducted the raid, leading to the arrest of 25 suspects and the recovery of cannabis, controlled drugs, and other prohibited substances.
The operation targeted locations identified as centres for the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.
For residents living near such hotspots, the police action offers a sense of relief.
A shop owner near one of the affected areas said drug-related activities had become a growing concern.
“We often witnessed suspicious movements at night,” he said. “Young boys would gather, smoke, and sometimes cause disturbances. Many business owners were worried about security.”
While law enforcement remains important, stakeholders argue that prevention is equally critical. They stress the need for greater awareness campaigns in schools, religious centres, and communities to educate young people about the dangers of drug abuse.
Youth advocates also point to unemployment and poverty as factors pushing some young people toward substance abuse. They say creating opportunities for education, skills development, sports, and entrepreneurship can help keep young people away from drugs.
Mental health professionals further emphasize that recovery should be part of the conversation. Rather than viewing drug users solely as offenders, they advocate increased access to counselling, rehabilitation, and support services for individuals struggling with addiction.
The message emerging from families, educators, health workers, and security agencies is clear: cannabis use carries consequences that often extend beyond the individual user.
What begins as experimentation can gradually evolve into addiction, damaged relationships, declining health, educational failure, and involvement in criminal activities. The ripple effects are felt by parents, siblings, neighbours, schools, and entire communities.
As the Plateau State Police Command continues its campaign against drug trafficking and abuse, many residents hope that enforcement, combined with education and rehabilitation, will help protect vulnerable youths from falling into the trap of substance abuse.
For families already affected, the lesson is painfully simple: the temporary high offered by cannabis is never worth the lasting damage it can leave behind.
