Most criminal activities in Nigeria fueled by drug abuse, says Marwa

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), has attributed most of the crimes in the country to drug abuse, saying that over 15 million Nigerians, mainly between the ages of 16 and 64, indulge in use of illicit drugs.

According to a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the NDLEA Chief made the comments on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He said there is a nexus between drug abuse and criminality owing to irrational behaviour associated with illicit drug use.

General Marwa said criminals such as kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and so on perpetrate their evil acts under the influence of drugs.

He noted that if the menace of drug abuse is checked, crime rate in Nigeria will drop.

The NDLEA boss said he was at the Army Headquarters to congratulate the COAS on his well-deserved appointment and to solicit collaboration with the Nigerian Army in the area of training and for professional support that would aid the agency in its fight against illicit drug use and trafficking.

In his response, Attahiru thanked the NDLEA boss for the visit, and affirmed that a collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the agency would give the fight against use and trafficking in illicit drugs a definitive boost.

He said the Nigerian Army under his leadership will assist and collaborate with the agency to achieve the noble objectives.

The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal Ebenezer Alade, also paid a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters.

In his remarks, Alade said he was at the Army Headquarters to brief the COAS on the activities of the college since his assumption as the 24th commandant.

AVM Alade said the institution recently acquired simulation hardware to improve Information Technology Base Study designed to put the institution on the global map.