By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s Chairman, Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has called for effective sensitisation of youths in the country to the inherent danger of drug abuse.

Marwa made the call at the 2025 Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism, Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVE-IT) Meeting on National Security in Abuja

The theme of the meeting is, “Pathways to Inter-Agency Collaboration and Citizens Cooperation in the Fight against Kidnapping, Insurgency and Terrorism in Nigeria”.

Marwa said that the rising link between drug abuse, youth radicalisation and terrorism in Nigeria was becoming alarming.

The NDLEA chairman said that drug trafficking had become a lucrative funding source for criminal gangs and insurgents, who exploit porous borders and weak community systems to move narcotics across regions.

Marwa, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Muhammed Ibrahim, said that extremist and terrorist groups now actively exploit unemployed and drug-dependent youths to further their criminal aims.

“Therefore, there is the absolute need for multi-agency collaboration, grassroots empowerment and effective sensitisation for the youths to be aware of the dangers of drug abuse and shun the evil practice.

“This is because, extremist and terrorist groups often prey on unemployed and drug-dependent youths, offering them drugs and a false sense of purpose.

“Some insurgents and suicide bombers are deliberately drugged before operations to suppress fear and conscience.

“Hence, effective sensitisation by all stakeholders for the youths is very important to reduce and eliminate the menace of drug abuse, crimes and insurgency in the country,” Marwa said.

The NDLEA chairman commended BRAVE-IT, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for its unwavering commitment to empowering vulnerable communities to resist violent extremism, terrorism, and insurgency.

He said that policy advocacy for stronger border control, signing of MoUs with countries for intelligence sharing, capacity building of personnel and regulation of pharmaceuticals are evidence-based prevention programmes.

“The youths are most vulnerable, therefore, we speak the language they understand, that is social media, NDLEA is active on Facebook, Instagram and X; we have our 24/7 free toll call centre for people who need help on drug abuse.

“Under the current leadership, NDLEA has seized over 10 million different types of illicit drugs, arrested over 57,000 suspects, secured over 10,000 convictions, counselled and rehabilitate over 22,000 individuals,” Marwa said.