- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 77,792 suspects, including 128 suspected drug barons, have been arrested with 14,225 convictions secured in the past five years, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), revealed.
Marwa made this known in his remarks at the 11th Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) Awards and Commendation ceremony held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
As quoted in a statement issued on Tuesday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Marwa further disclosed the seizure of over 14.8 kilogrammes of illicit substances in the past five years.
The NDLEA boss held that the accomplishment had sent a clear message to illicit drug enterprise that Nigeria is no longer their safe haven.
“When I first resumed in 2021, I promised to take the fight to the doorsteps of the merchants of death. Today, the numbers speak for themselves. Through our collective resilience, we have sent a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprise.
“It’s therefore heartwarming to note that in the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons who were central to major trafficking networks. We seized a total of 14,847,486.34 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.
“In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences, the Agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences.
“In line with our balanced approach, the Agency also prioritised drug demand reduction.
“Through structured treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes, 32,442 drug users received professional intervention.
“Additionally, 13,735 War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities were conducted across schools, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres, and communities, expanding preventive awareness and citizen engagement nationwide”, he stated while highlighting the results of the last half-decade drug control efforts of the Agency under his leadership.
Marwa however noted that the achievements would not have been possible without the support of the executive, legislature and the judiciary.
He expressed his profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unflinching support and the trust reposed in his leadership.
The NDLEA boss said that the President’s decision to extend the current leadership’s mandate is a call to escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights.
“These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of discipline, leadership, intelligence-led operations, and clear performance expectations.
“This journey would not have been possible without the unflinching support of the President. I therefore wish to express my profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the absolute trust he has reposed in my leadership and in the entire workforce of this Agency.
“Mr. President’s decision to extend our mandate is a call to more work. We assure him, and indeed all Nigerians, that the successes of the past five years are merely a foundation. In this second tenure, we will escalate the war against drug abuse and trafficking to new heights of efficiency and results”, he stated.
Addressing the officers, men and women of the agency, Marwa charged them to brace up for more tactically sophisticated operations against drug cartels, barons and their mules in the next five years of his second tenure.
“the next phase of our operations demands even more grit and more tactical sophistication. We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, every mule is caught, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets and communities.
“There is no room for complacency. We must remain proactive, intelligence-led, and ruthless in our pursuit of those who seek to destroy our youth and our national security.
“Let me be clear: the objective of this Agency remains the total disruption of drug trafficking and the protection of our communities.
“The expectation is sustained pressure until every drug baron, trafficker, courier, and every gram of illicit drugs is taken out of our streets and communities. There will be no retreat and no complacency.” He said.