By Bavoriat Clara
Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for collective action involving families, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and community heads to tackle drug abuse, cultism, and banditry among Nigerian youths.
Marwa made the call while delivering the keynote address at a seminar organised by the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns in Ogun State on Saturday, 9th August 2025, with the theme “Dangers of Drug Abuse, Cultism and Banditry Among Youths”.
In a statement issued in Abuja by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the triple threat of cult-related violence, substance abuse, and banditry is a reality that must be addressed decisively. He noted that the issues are interconnected and have expanded from tertiary institutions into secondary schools and neighbourhoods.
Citing projections by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Marwa warned that drug use in Africa is expected to rise by 40 percent, with Nigeria having one of the highest prevalence rates globally. He urged stakeholders to strengthen family values, make schools safe spaces, and invest in youth development through education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, and sports.
Giving updates on NDLEA operations in the past 54 months, Marwa said 67,345 traffickers, including 95 drug barons, had been arrested, with 12,415 convicts currently serving jail terms. He added that the agency seized over 11.2 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms, conducted 11,584 sensitisation lectures nationwide, and rehabilitated 27,187 drug users in its 30 facilities.
Marwa appealed for community collaboration with the NDLEA through vigilance, reporting of suspicious activities, and support for advocacy programmes. He also called for improved grassroots security and moral reorientation among youths.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Council, Chief Adebisi Adeola Alausa, commended Marwa for honouring the invitation, while Chairman of the occasion, Senator Lekan Mustapha, praised his leadership and achievements.
While in Ijebu Ode, Marwa also paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
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