Marwa Urges United Front Against Drug Abuse, Cultism, and Banditry

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for a nationwide, multi-stakeholder effort to tackle the growing menace of substance abuse, cultism, and banditry among Nigerian youths.

Speaking in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, at a seminar themed “Dangers of Drug Abuse, Cultism and Banditry Among Youths” and organised by the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns, Marwa stressed that the three vices are deeply intertwined, creating a destructive cycle that must be broken.

He warned that cultism, once restricted to tertiary institutions, has spread into secondary schools and neighbourhoods, luring young people with false promises of protection and power. “The hands of many of our youths have been stained with the blood of their peers,” he lamented.

Citing UNODC projections that drug use in Africa could rise by 40%, Marwa urged Nigeria to take the threat personally, given its already high prevalence rates. He called for strengthened family units, active community leadership, and schools that provide mentorship, discipline, and safety.

Highlighting NDLEA’s recent achievements, Marwa revealed that in the past 54 months, the agency has arrested 67,345 traffickers, including 95 drug barons—some of them high-profile figures—and seized over 11.2 million kilograms of illicit drugs. The agency has also destroyed more than 1,500 hectares of cannabis farms and conducted over 11,000 sensitisation campaigns nationwide.

Beyond enforcement, he emphasised prevention and rehabilitation, noting that over 27,000 drug users have been treated in NDLEA facilities, with many more receiving psychosocial support through its toll-free helpline.

Marwa urged communities to report suspicious activities, partner with security agencies, and invest in youth development through education, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship. “The path to greatness is not paved with shortcuts of violence and drugs, but with hard work, vision, and purpose,” he said.

Commending the organisers, he described the seminar’s theme as timely and vital. He also paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during his trip.

Council Chairman, Chief Adebisi Adeola Alausa, and Senator Lekan Mustapha both praised Marwa’s leadership and commitment, urging other communities to emulate Ijebu Ode’s proactive stance in safeguarding the youth.