The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) on Wednesday, 14 April 2021, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The NDLEA boss said he came to congratulate the COAS on his well-deserved appointment and subsequent promotion to the enviable rank of Lieutenant General. He also solicited for collaboration with the Nigerian Army in the area of training and for professional support that will aid the Agency in the fight against illicit drugs and drug trafficking.
According to him, the fight against drug abuse like other enforcement campaigns needs further training of the Agency’s personnel to enhance operational efficiency.
Marwa attributed most crimes in the country to drug abuse, adding that over fifteen million Nigerians, mainly youths between the age of 16 – 64 indulge in the use of illicit drugs. According to him, there is a nexus between drug abuse and criminality as a result of irrational behavior associated with illicit drugs.
He said criminals such as kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, and so on perpetrate their evil acts under the influence of drugs. He expressed optimism that if the menace of drug abuse is checked, the crime rate in Nigeria will drop.
‘As the military operations are ongoing, we need to concurrently address the drug situation which is our task in the NDLEA,’ he said.
‘Unless these two go together, it could take longer for the insecurity to be speedily brought to a favorable conclusion.
We need more fire power and I am happy to say that at has been very supportive in our operations and I will like to reiterate the need for this partnership.
‘We have also been recently arresting traffickers to Boko Haram and I want to assure that we will continue to drive home the attack.
In his response, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru thanked the Chairman for the visit and affirmed that the collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the NDLEA will give the fight against the use and trafficking of illicit drugs a definitive boost. He promised that the Army, under his leadership will be committed to assisting and collaborating with the NDLEA to achieve the noble objectives.
