The Nigerian military can contain insurgencies similar to banditry, according to Marwa

Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has praised the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their professionalism, patriotism, and daily sacrifices in their efforts to combat violence against women and children in the North West and other security issues in various parts of the country.

Marwa made the commendation on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja by Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, to discuss potential collaboration between the NCTC and NDLEA.

Following a viral video showing bandits celebrating the “capture” of a military armored vehicle stuck in a muddy path in Kwashabawa, Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state, he stated that support and encouragement for the Armed Forces is necessary. He also added that the Nigerian military is in a good position and capable of containing banditry, just as they have contained insurgencies in the North East.

In an effort to address all of the nation’s security issues, Marwa asked Nigerians to support the armed forces and other security services. In his words, “the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel are an equal or better match to any of their colleagues anywhere in the world, man for man, officer to officer, soldier to soldier.”

He added that the feats of our military forces under ECOMOG are still fresh in our memories and that this explains their success in peacekeeping operations even before independence and why the UN is keen to work with them.

“I remember that Nigerian troops were always in demand for their professionalism and efficacy during my time serving as Defense Advisor in our Permanent Mission to the UN,” he said.

“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 and an amorphous enemy that easily mixes with the rural population,” Marwa said, emphasizing the need to recognize the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.

He claimed that the criminal activities of non-state actors in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and other areas of the region will soon come to an end if the same security forces are successful in quelling the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, which was formerly far worse than the current banditry in the North West.

The head of NDLEA stated that the Nigerian people should help the armed forces and other security services in a variety of ways and not give in to the propaganda of criminal groups.

“Through their Service Headquarters, we can channel our support and goodwill towards our security forces in the form of words of encouragement, scholarships for their orphaned children, and other grants of empowerment to their widows and families,” Marwa said.

While expressing gratitude for the visit, he expressed confidence in Gen. Laka’s capacity to fulfill his duties at the NCTC.

Speaking earlier, Gen. Laka stated that he was on the tour to look for ways for the NCTC and NDLEA to work together, given the close connection that exists between drugs and criminal activity. He stated that the NDLEA’s operations had disrupted criminal activity and dealt a serious blow to criminal organizations and activities that profit from the use of illegal drugs and substances, having made over 50,000 arrests in just three years.

“We all know the nexus between drug abuse, crime, and terrorism,” he said. We know that narcotics provide financial resources and impair judgment, which in turn encourage violent extremism. These factors drive a variety of illegal activities, including terrorism. This connection emphasizes how critical it is to tackle these challenges from all angles.

“The center houses cutting-edge laboratories. You are welcome to use our open toxicological, DNA, fingerprint, data extraction, and other labs. I hope that we can work together with the NDLEA to combat terrorist threats within the nation.

“Strategic communication and sensitization programs regarding the connection between drugs and crime are also necessary. In order to educate the public about the risks associated with drug use, we would thus like to cooperate in conjunction with the NDLEA to host sensitization workshops, seminars, and other events.