Mrs Martha Paul, a 60-year-old resident of Tudun Wada Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, has decried the rising intake of dry gin, popularly known as ‘Goskolo’ among youths in the North-Central State.
Martha, who was crying uncontrollably, said on Tuesday in Jos that the substance had claimed the life of her only son.
“I lost my son to goskolo; he was hooked on it and it killed him,” said the petty trader
Goskolo, also known as ‘ogogoro’, ‘dry gin’ or ‘kai kai’, is far stronger than the average alcohol.
It is a spirit-drink but locally made at home by some people and it does not go through the right process of gin production.
Paul said that her child, 25, who died in 2022, was a 300-level student of the University of Jos.
She explained that he developed complications that later affected his internal organs due to high consumption of the illicit drink.
”As we speak, my heart is heavy because last year, I lost my son and only child due to high consumption of goskolo and other illicit substances.
”My son died after he developed health challenge due to the illicit substances he consumed over time.
”I will never wish any mother to experience my pains and this is why parents must play serious role in the upbringing of their wards.
”I also want to appeal to young people to desist from taking illicit substances. Drug abuse is generally dangerous to our health and society as a whole, ”she ssid
Paul, also called on the goverment to ban the production and consumption of goskolo in the state, insisting that such step would curtail the challenges that usually arise with its consumption.
On his part, Mr Agwom Azi, the Community Leader of Mado in Tudan Wada, decried the spate of consumption of illicit substances by largely young people in the area.
Azi, particularly attributed the increasing rate of petty crimes and other social vices in the community to high intake of hard drugs by young people.
He added that the trend was constituting serious threats to the existing peace in the community.
”I will be very happy if government and other relevant organisations can address the spate of drug abuse not only in Tudun wada but other communities in Plateau
”Petty thefts and other social vices is on the rise in most communities, young people have abandoned schooling and other meaningful ventures only to indulge in consumption of illicit substances
”As we speak, I’m handling a case where a young man impreganted his younger sister because he is always high on ogogoro; children hit their parents at slightest provocation and physically abuse others because they are under the influence of goskolo
”As a community, we are calling on government to take drastic steps toward addressing this menace; that way we can have a peaceful, virile and progressive society that we all desire,”he said.
Pastor Chukwuma Ukpabi of the Lord’s Chosen Church, Abattoir, Jos, decried the spate of sexual abuse among youths due to drug abuse.
Ukpapi called on goverment to enact legislation banning the production and consumption of goskolo in the state.
Ukpapi, who decried the health implication of consuming unprocessed drinks, said goverment should put stiffer sanctions for violators of the ban.
He, however, called on goverment to provide job opportunities and create an enabling environment for young people to put their potentials and talents to good use.
”That way, most of these young people roaming the streets and resorting to alcoholism and drug abuse will not be there.
”They will be busy with meaningful ventures and won’t have the time to consume goskolo and other illicit substances,”he said.
On her part, Mrs Lana Habu, a business woman in Jos, called on parents to be good examples to their children.
She also advised parents to provide early and quality education to their wards, insisting that such move would enable the young people have solid foundation and moral upbringing.
”Parents should endeavour to send their children to school no matter the situation; in school they will learn and understand what constitutes a good habit and the one that is bad.
”As parents, we must be shining examples to our children too. Let them see us as role models and moulders at all times,”she advised.
Dr Victor Shehu of the Plateau Specialist Hospital, described as ”alarming” the excessive intake of dry gin and other illicit substances by youths in the state, a situation he said was responsible for the rise in cases of liver and heart related problems among young people in the state.
Shehu said that increased intake of the unprocessed gin and other alcoholic contents has direct link to cardiovascular diseases and increased risks of heart attacks
”Excessive conasumption of goskolo and other illicit substances can have harmfuk effects on the liver, kidney and heart
”Frequent consumption of dry gin and in large amounts can have long-term effects on the brain and body.
”Generally, alcohol misuse increases the risk of health problems, alcohol poisoning, and brain damage”he said.
The state government had in 2016 sent an executive bill to the House of Assembly seeking to ban the production, sale and consumption of goskolo in the state. The bill, however, never saw the light of day.
