A deep sense of fear and heartbreak is spreading across communities in Pujehun township, as residents raise alarm over the continued presence of underage children in nightclubs, where drugs and alcohol reportedly circulate openly.

Parents, teachers, and community elders say children as young as their early teens are being seen inside nightclubs late at night, mingling with adults in environments widely associated with substance abuse. Many describe the situation as a silent crisis, with families struggling to shield their children from growing social pressures and what they call weak enforcement of child protection laws.

“My child leaves the house saying he is going to a friend’s place, but we later hear he was seen in a nightclub,” said one distressed parent. “We are losing control, and the system meant to protect our children is failing us.”

Local youth workers warn that early exposure to drugs and alcohol significantly increases the risk of addiction, school dropout, criminal behavior, and long-term health problems. Sierra Leone has faced a rising drug abuse problem among young people in recent years, with communities like Pujehun feeling the strain sharply due to limited resources and oversight.

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Despite existing laws prohibiting minors from entering nightclubs or consuming alcohol, residents allege that some club owners continue to admit children without verifying ages. Critics argue that profit is being placed above child safety, while accountability remains weak.

“These places are not meant for children,” said a community leader. “When club owners allow minors inside, they are helping destroy the future of this district.”

Teachers in the area report a troubling link between nightlife exposure and declining school attendance. Some students arrive in class exhausted and disengaged, while others stop attending altogether, raising concerns about the long-term consequences for education and community development.

Civil society organizations and child-protection advocates are calling on local authorities, law enforcement agencies, and traditional leaders to take urgent action. They are demanding stricter enforcement of age restrictions, regular inspections of nightlife venues, and tougher penalties for owners who violate child protection laws.

As concern grows, many residents say the issue represents more than nightlife mismanagement it is a fight to preserve the safety and future of the district’s children. Across Pujehun township, one message is repeated: children deserve protection, guidance, and opportunity not exposure to drugs and danger behind nightclub doors. Community members hope that speaking out will finally prompt decisive action before more young lives are permanently damaged.