Ndlea Chief Marwa Stresses Urgency Of Combating Drug Trafficking

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), has emphasized the critical importance of winning the battle against drug trafficking.

He made these remarks during a visit to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba, where he led a delegation. Marwa highlighted the alarming prevalence of hard drug abuse in Nigeria, with more than 15 million drug users falling within the age group of 15 to 64 years. He based this information on data from a survey conducted by the relevant agency of the United Nations. To effectively combat this issue, he called for the support and cooperation of the state government in the ongoing fight against drug abuse. The NDLEA CEO linked the widespread problems of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, insurgency, rape, murder, and other criminal activities across the country to the abuse of hard drugs by those involved. In Delta State, he noted that the drug abuse prevalence rate among individuals aged 15 to 64 stood at 18 per cent, involving over half a million of the population. Over the past two years, the NDLEA has taken substantial actions to address the issue, including the destruction of over 1,000 hectares of land dedicated to the cultivation of illicit drugs, the seizure of more than 6,000 tonnes of narcotics, and the arrest of over 36,000 suspects and persons of interest. Additionally, over 6,000 individuals have been convicted and sentenced. During his visit to Delta State, Marwa expressed condolences to the Fidelis family for the tragic loss of two-year-old Eromonsele, who lost his life accidentally during an operation in Asaba. He also engaged with stakeholders who play vital roles in the fight against drug trafficking, reiterating the urgency of addressing this pressing issue for the betterment of society.