MARWA’S NDLEA PROVING ITS METTLE IN NIGERIA’S INSECURITY SAGA – MURIC

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎30^th July, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎MARWA’S NDLEA PROVING ITS METTLE IN NIGERIA’S INSECURITY SAGA – MURIC

‎‎A Muslim rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has beamed it’s searchlight on the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

‎‎In a special focus on the agency, MURIC’s boss, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday 30th July, 2026, described the NDLEA as indispensable in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that NDLEA has free access to cutting-edge technology and full support of both state and non-state actors.

‎‎The statement reads:

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), concerned about the prolonged insecurity in the land, bewildered by the severity of the barbaric behaviour of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, hereby resolved to take a closer look at the relationship between violent crimes and drug addiction in relation to the raging cycle of insecurity in Nigeria.

‎‎”According to latest statistics, insecurity has claimed more than 628,000 lives while over 2.2 million have been abducted since 2023 alone. We can only imagine the figures from around 2012 when Boko Haram began its operations (https://businessday-ng.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/businessday.ng/life/article/the-killing-fields-inside-nigerias-staggering-human-cost-of-insecurity/).

‎‎”Apart from the colossal loss of human lives and properties, insecurity has so far constituted the Strait of Hormuz for the economic and educational development in Nigeria as both local and foreign investors have kept a safe distance from embattled zones.‎

‎”At the same time, sporadic attacks on schools have increased thereby swelling the number of out of school children which, according to UNICEF, presently stands at 18.3 million (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/ending-nigerias-18-3-million-out-of-school-children-crisis/).

‎‎”Yet at the bottom of Nigeria’s security crisis lies the phenomenon of drug addiction so much so that many believe that if Nigeria wins the drug war, insecurity will drastically reduce by more than 60%.

‎‎”There is ample empirical proof that bandits and terrorists abuse drugs. That is why they behave like animals. Those dangerous substances have been found in their camps. The camps of Boko Haram cleared by troops are often littered with psychotropic drugs. It is also on record that ten suppliers of hard drugs were intercepted by NDLEA in December 2021 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/jihad-drug-10-suppliers-of-narcotics-to-bandits-terrorists-intercepted/amp/).

‎‎”Therefore Nigeria’s insecurity, to a large extent, is drug induced. Besides, arrested insurgents and bandits often show withdrawal symptoms after days in custody of security agents. They are also known to have confessed during interrogation to regular use of drugs. Some terrorists and bandits have also been captured with drugs, including pharmaceutical opioids. These discoveries underscore the role being played by drug use by terrorists and bandits.

‎‎”Meanwhile this close nexus between drugs and crimes makes it imperative to relate it to the brilliant performance of the NDLEA under its present leadership and the urgent need for FG to give unconditional support to the drug law enforcement agency.

‎‎”FG must pay more attention to Nigeria’s drug war with particular reference to its brilliant trajectory in the past six years under General Buba Marwa (rtd). NDLEA has become an inseparable partner in the war against tertorists, bandits and kidnappers.

‎‎”In addition, we call FG’s attention to the devastation global drug cartels have brought to countries like Mexico where 400,000 had died by 2021 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_drug_war),  Colombia where the death toll had reached 9,263,826 by 2022 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_conflict) and Ecuador wwhere at least one person is murdered per hour (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260708-ecuador-s-death-canal-watery-grave-for-victims-of-gang-violence) particularly with their extreme violence and state destabilization. This proves that the drug saga has direct impact on governance.

‎‎”Fortunately the new sheriff in town has proved beyond any scintilla of doubt that he is up to the task. Under Marwa, the rate at which drug barons are apprehended while huge quantities of narcotics are seized is unprecedented. What is even more interesting in the successes recorded by NDLEA is the federal character assumed by the seizures and arrests as they occur in all geopolitical zones.

‎‎”Exampli gratia, in June this year (2026), NDLEA bursted a Mexican drug cartel and arrested some Mexicans and their Nigerian collaborators at their drug factory ( https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/mexican-four-others-arrested-as-ndlea-uncovers-meth-lab-in-oyo-forest/). This has been the pattern in the past four years under Marwa as no week passed without NDLEA registering a significant breakthrough.

‎‎”We affirm that illicit drug is the mother of crimes in general and the earlier we stamp it out of our society the easier for victory in the war against violent groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP and ISIS.

‎‎”At the rate it is going, what NDLEA needs is cutting-edge technology so as to out-smart drug barons, illicit drug peddlers and their agents in every area of the game.

‎‎”MURIC charges state governments to key into NDLEA’s vision in the struggle to free Nigerian youths from drug addiction thereby ridding the society of crime. It is penny wise pound foolish to leave the fire while going after the smoke. The cassu belli of Nigeria’s insecurity lies in hard drugs and NDLEA is sine qua non in the war against insecurity. State governments should therefore stop treating drug issues with kid gloves.

‎‎”We call on citizens to assist NDLEA with timely and actionable information. Citizens at the grassroots must take charge at this moment because it is our war. Our children, our wives, our husbands and our relations are involved. We must stop the fire on the roof from spreading.

‎‎”We appeal to all security agencies to up their collaboration with the NDLEA. Inter-agency cooperation is key to getting good results in this drug war. There can be no enduring success in the drug war without intelligence sharing.

‎‎”The drug brouhaha cuts across people of all faiths, all ethnicities. The duty of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) as an advocacy group for Allah-given fundamental human rights, good governance, anti-corruption, societal welfare and moral awakening, is to jog the conscience of society and its leadership.

‎‎”It is heartwarming that this is not the first time we will speak up on the issue of drugs. We did in October 2021 by calling on Nigerians to support NDLEA’s fight against illicit drug (https://dailypost.ng/2021/10/09/muric-urges-nigerians-to-support-ndlea-fight-illicit-drug/) and in November 2025 when we commended General Marwa’s sterling performance at the NDLEA  (https://leadership.ng/marwas-reappointment-motivated-by-sterling-performance-muric/).

‎‎”As we draw the curtains, we recall our position that Nigeria’s insecurity, to a large extent, is drug induced. We therefore appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that  NDLEA has free access to cutting-edge technology and full support of both state and non-state actors in its war against drug cartels. Victory over insurgents and terrorists may not be guaranteed until the drug threat is drastically reduced. We must not wait until Nigeria descends into another Mexico, Colombia or Ecuador.”

‎#NDLEA

‎#FG

‎#Insecurity

‎#Drug

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).