A 60-year-old resident of Tudun Wada Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, Mrs. Martha Paul, expressed concern over the increasing consumption of dry gin, locally known as “Goskolo, among youths in Plateau. She tragically lost her only son to the substance, stating, “I lost my son to goskolo; he was hooked on it and it killed him.”
Her late son was a 300-level student at the University of Jos when he passed away in 2022. The liquid substance, also known as ”ogogoro” or ”kai-kai”, is much stronger than typical alcohol and is locally produced in homes, bypassing the usual process of gin production.
Mrs. Paul revealed that her son suffered complications that affected his internal organs due to excessive consumption of the illicit drink. She urged parents to be attentive to their children's activities and cautioned young people against using illicit substances, emphasizing the danger of drug abuse to health and society at large.
In addition, she called on the government to prohibit the production and consumption of goskolo, believing that such action would help address the challenges associated with its consumption.
Mr. Agwom Azi, the community leader of Mado in Tudun Wada, also expressed concern over the consumption of illicit substances by young people in the area. He linked the rising rates of petty crimes and other social vices to the high intake of hard drugs among the youth, which was posing a serious threat to the existing peace in Tudun Wada.
He appealed to the government and relevant organizations to address the issue of drug abuse in Plateau, citing instances of young people abandoning schools and engaging in destructive behavior due to the influence of goskolo. He highlighted a distressing case where a young man impregnated his younger sister while under the influence of the substance. Azi emphasized the importance of taking drastic measures to combat this menace and ensure a peaceful, progressive society.