The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri recorded no fewer than 43,000 cases of mental disorder in the past 16 years.

Alhaji Babagana Machina, Senior Registrar in the hospital, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Maiduguri that this year alone, 1,400 cases had so far been recorded.

He said that most of the cases recorded this year, were as a result of drug abuse.

According to him, about 90 percent of persons under treatment and rehabilitation are youth below the age of 30, who had taken to drug abuse.

He lamented that peer group influence and negligence of parents were the major factors responsible for most of the affected youth going astray.

He therefore appealed to parents to invest in the future of their children by ensuring close monitoring.

Also speaking to NAN on the issue, Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Borno, Alhaji Yahya Imam, said his agency had organised sensitisation activities to educate the youth on the dangers of drug abuse.

Imam however lamented that the security challenges being experienced, had not helped matters.

He said that most of the youth helping to tackle the menace of insurgents, had to take to drugs to remain fit and fearless in the discharge of their humanitarian service. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Shettima of Borno State.