Marwa Confident In Military’s Ability To Curb Banditry, Comparing It To Insurgency

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has praised the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their professionalism, patriotism, and daily sacrifices in combating banditry in the North West and other security challenges across the country.

Marwa made the commendation on Tuesday, when Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, paid him a courtesy visit at the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja to discuss NCTC and NDLEA collaboration.

He stated that there is a need to support and encourage the Armed Forces in light of a viral video of bandits celebrating the ‘capture’ of a military armoured vehicle stuck in a muddy path in Kwashabawa, Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state, and that the Nigerian military is well-positioned and capable of containing banditry in the same way that it has contained insurgency in the North East.

He urged Nigerians to support the military and other security agencies in their ongoing efforts to address all of the country’s security challenges. He claims that “man for man, officer to officer, soldier to soldier, the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel are an equal or better match to any of their colleagues anywhere in the world.”

Marwa stated that this explains their success in peacekeeping operations prior to independence and why they are highly sought after by the United Nations, adding that our armed forces’ exploits under ECOMOG are still fresh in memory. “I recall that during my tenure as Defence Adviser in our Permanent Mission to the UN, Nigerian troops were always sought after for their professionalism and effectiveness,” he said.

The NDLEA boss emphasised the importance of appreciating the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel, saying: “We must always remember that our men and women in uniform left their families and went to the bush these past 15 years, fighting an asymmetrical warfare in ill-defined territories against an amorphous enemy that easily mixes with the rural population.”

He stated that if the same security forces were able to contain the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, which was once far worse than the current banditry in the North West, they will soon put an end to the criminal activities of non-state actors in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and other parts of the region.

Marwa argued that rather than falling for criminal elements’ propaganda, the Nigerian public should stand up for massive and unequivocal support for the armed forces and other security agencies in a variety of ways. “Our support and goodwill to our security forces can take the form of encouraging words, scholarships for their orphaned children, and other empowerment grants for their widows and families, all of which can be channelled through their Service Headquarters,” he added.

He thanked Gen. Laka for the visit and expressed confidence in his ability to complete his duties at the NCTC.

Laka stated earlier that he came on the visit to seek collaboration between the NCTC and the NDLEA due to the strong link between drugs and crime. He stated that, with over 50,000 arrests in three years, the NDLEA’s activities have disrupted crimes and dealt a significant blow to criminal organisations as well as activities that rely on illicit drugs and substances.

According to him, “we are all aware of the link between drug abuse, crime, and terrorism. We know that drugs fuel a variety of criminal behaviour, including terrorism, by providing financial resources and impairing judgement, thereby contributing to violent extremism. This nexus emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach to combating these threats.

“Our centre houses cutting-edge laboratories. We have toxicology labs, DNA labs, fingerprint labs, data extraction labs, and so on, which are all open to you. I would like to see a situation in which we can work with the NDLEA to combat terrorism in the country.

“There is also a need for strategic communication and sensitisation campaigns on the link between drugs and crime.” So, we would like to work with the NDLEA to organise sensitisation workshops, seminars, and other activities to educate the public about the dangers of drug use.”