Marwa Seeks United Front Against Drug Abuse, Cultism, Banditry

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for united efforts from families, religious institutions, traditional rulers, and community leaders to combat the growing menace of drug abuse, cultism, and banditry among Nigerian youths.

Speaking as keynote speaker at a seminar organised by the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns in Ogun State on Saturday, August 9, 2025, Marwa stressed that these vices are interconnected and must be addressed collectively. The event was themed “Dangers of Drug Abuse, Cultism, and Banditry Among Youths.”

He noted that cultism, which was once confined to tertiary institutions, has now spread into secondary schools and communities, often driven by political or criminal influences. These groups, he said, lure young people with false promises of protection, power, and belonging, leading many into violence and crime.

According to Marwa, Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest drug use prevalence in the world, and projections by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicate a 40% rise in drug use across Africa in the coming years. Despite this, he maintained that reversing the trend is possible through collective responsibility and preventive action.

He urged stakeholders to strengthen family structures as the first line of moral education, ensure schools are safe spaces for mentorship, and invest in youth development through education, skills training, sports, and entrepreneurship to prevent idleness.

Highlighting NDLEA’s achievements in the past 54 months, Marwa disclosed that the agency had arrested 67,345 drug traffickers, including 95 drug barons, seized over 11.2 million kilograms of illicit substances, and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms. Additionally, 27,187 drug users have been treated and rehabilitated in the agency’s 30 rehab facilities nationwide.

Marwa called for closer collaboration between communities and law enforcement, urging citizens to report suspicious activities and support advocacy drives. He also stressed the need for improved grassroots security through properly trained local vigilante groups.

Commending the Council of Olorituns for its initiative, Marwa described the seminar as a model for other communities. “Let us rise as one people to rescue our children, secure our streets, and restore the values that once defined our land,” he said.

Council Chairman, Chief Adebisi Adeola Alausa, lauded Marwa for honouring the invitation, while the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Lekan Mustapha, praised Marwa’s leadership and track record both as a former military governor and as NDLEA boss.

During his visit to Ijebu Ode, Marwa also paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

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