SODIKO MOTOR PARK EMBRACED “THE NO ADDICTION” CAMPAIGN

Roots of Freedom
Initiative, ROFI Cameroon, have
organised a musical concert aimed at
raising awareness on related negative
effects of drug consumption to human
systems and the society at large.
The concept dubbed, “The No
Addiction Concert”, took place Monday,
June 27. It was staged at the Sodiko
Motor Park, in Bonaberi, Douala IV
Subdivision of the Littoral Region.
It was on the occasion of the 2023
International Day against Drug Abuse
and Illicit Trafficking. The day was
observed globally under the theme:
“People first. Stop Stigma and discrimi
nation, strengthen and prevention”.
During the commemoration, ROFI
Cameroon took its awareness campaign
to the Bonaberi Motor Park, known to
many as one of the fiefs of drug traffick
ing and abuse in Douala.
The targeted population, was young
sters battling with drug addiction and
have chosen the area as a hideout.
Speaking to the hearing of onlookers,
Honourable Tambe Mary did not mince
words when she said, “the Bonaberi
Sodiko Motor Park is the hell of drugs”.
She lamented the fact that drug con
sumption had become a way of life, rip
ping off the younger generation of their
full God-giving potentials.
“Many of them, even you listening to
me have become thieves due to drugs…
because when you are addicted, the only
use of your money is to buy those drugs.
When the money is not there, you steal,
harass poeple just to have money for
drugs. It is bad. We all need to stop,” she
insisted.
She added that it has been in their
mandate, with fellow parliamentarian,
His Majesty Hon. Fandja Gabriel to
ensure reinsertion of persons who are
willing to quit drug consumption.
However, over the years, those she had
approached, proved reluctant.
Psychologists say, persons who have
become addicted to drugs are often flee
ing from or hurdling some sort of trauma.
Most of them feel abandoned by fami
ly members. They end up in the streets as
drug traffickers and consumers. When it
gets to such stages, their ability to fully
process occurences with their brains
diminishes.
Research has proven that, a majority
of drugs addicts had succumbed in to
smoking from peer pressure. Some claim
smoking drugs gives inspiration, a myth
that has lured many youth in to drugs
abuse and afterward, addiction and help
lessness
Going by the Founder of ROFI
Cameroon, Ndip Simon Akum, just like
him, many who consume narcotic sub
stances believe it will give them super
abilities.
Now an anti -drug activist, Ndip began
smoking when he was a form two sec
ondary school student. He had thought
smoking weed will make him intelligent
above his peers
“I started smoking drugs when I was in
form Two. Friends told me drugs will
help me to excel in mathematics. When I
started smoking drugs, I realised I had
worst grades than before, then I stopped
smoking,” Ndip said
His journey towards sobriety, inspired
him to create an association that would
help recover lost ones from the streets to
rehabilitation.
Message gets to the targets
Created in 2021, ROFI Cameroon has
not relent her efforts in helping vulnera
ble addicts to overcome their weakness
and empathically engage them to devel
op better habits for the brighter future.
For the past years, ROFI has engaged
in counselling, sensitization campaigns
in schools ghettos and sub communities.
ROFI has so far increased it member
ship with tens of Cameroonians who are
now fully recovered and are helping oth
ers realize consequences and dangers of
drugs abuse.
They are of the belief that, from a day
to a lifetime, sobriety is possible. On
ground, over seven drugs addicts repent
ed and decided they will quit smoking
drugs upon the call of Honourable Tambe
Mary.
She has promised to work hand in
gloves with ROFI and Social centers to
ensure the repentant drugs addict pass
through a rehabilitation, hence re-inser
tion in to the society.
A repented drug addict, Atabong
Derick said he had wished to quite but
had no support. Atabong had been in the
game for over ten years.
“I started with my friends from child
hood since like ten years ago. We didn’t
know what it was all about when we
realised what it was, there was no way to
stop. It was easy to start but difficult to
stop,” Atabong said.