Marwa Urges United Front Against Drug Abuse, Cultism and Banditry
…NDLEA chief calls on parents, traditional, religious and community leaders to act decisively in safeguarding youths
The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called for urgent and collective action to combat the growing menace of drug abuse, cultism and banditry among Nigerian youths.
Delivering the keynote address at a seminar organised by the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns in Ogun State on Saturday, 9th August 2025, Marwa warned that these vices, though seemingly separate, are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing, forming a cycle of destruction that must be broken.
The seminar, themed “Dangers of Drug Abuse, Cultism and Banditry among Youths”, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, community heads, educators and youth groups to address these challenges.
According to the NDLEA boss, cultism—once largely confined to tertiary institutions—has now infiltrated secondary schools and neighbourhoods, evolving from secret gatherings into violent confraternities often exploited by political or criminal elements.
“These groups lure young people under the guise of brotherhood, protection or empowerment, only to entrap them in a world of fear, violence and premature death,” he lamented.
Citing United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) projections, Marwa noted that the number of drug users in Africa could rise by 40 per cent, with Nigeria already among the countries with the highest prevalence rates globally. He, however, insisted that the trend could still be reversed if all stakeholders acted decisively.
“The first step is collective responsibility,” Marwa stressed. “Parents, religious institutions, traditional rulers, educational authorities and community leaders must rise with one voice. Families must remain the first point of moral instruction, schools should promote discipline and mentorship, and communities must provide positive opportunities for young people through education, entrepreneurship, skills training and sports.”
Highlighting the NDLEA’s efforts, Marwa revealed that in the past 54 months, the agency had arrested 67,345 traffickers—including 95 high-profile barons—seized over 11.2 million kilograms of illicit drugs, destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms, and rehabilitated 27,187 drug users through its 30 facilities nationwide.
Additionally, the agency had delivered more than 11,500 sensitisation lectures across schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities, while thousands had benefited from psychosocial support through its toll-free helpline.
He called on communities like Ijebu Ode to partner with the NDLEA, report suspicious activities, support advocacy campaigns and strengthen grassroots security through well-trained local vigilante groups working in coordination with law enforcement.
“We must rekindle the moral and spiritual fabric of our society,” Marwa urged. “The path to greatness lies not in shortcuts of violence and drugs, but in hard work, vision and integrity.”
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the Council, Chief Adebisi Adeola Alausa, commended Marwa for honouring the invitation, describing the gathering as a united front of leaders, parents, educators and youths determined to protect the community’s future.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Lekan Mustapha, hailed Marwa as a visionary leader, citing his track record as military governor of Borno and Lagos States and his transformation of the NDLEA into an internationally respected agency.
Marwa also used his visit to Ijebu Ode to pay a condolence call to the family of the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
