Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has applauded the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its relentless efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
HURIWA, in a statement issued in Abuja by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, commended the leadership of NDLEA, particularly Brig-Gen Mohammed Marwa (rtd), for their unwavering commitment and professionalism in the fight against drug syndicates.
The rights advocacy group said the agency’s operations in various states, including Lagos, Enugu, Kwara, Taraba and Zamfara, bolstered public confidence in the government’s ability to dismantle drug networks and safeguard future generations from the dangers of addiction and criminal activities.
According to HURIWA, the recent operation on Proxy Night Club in Victoria Island, Lagos, where over 100 suspects, including the club owner, were apprehended, and the interception of United Kingdom-bound cocaine concealed in cream containers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, illustrate the NDLEA’s intelligence-driven approach to tackling drug trafficking.
It also cited the interception of tramadol, methamphetamine, skunk and other illicit substances across several states as proof that the agency’s operations were not only comprehensive but also effectively disrupting the supply chain of dangerous drugs within and outside Nigeria.
HURIWA condemned the violent attack on NDLEA officers and their military counterparts in Ukpuje town, Owan West Local Council of Edo State, where drug cultivators ambushed operatives during an anti-cannabis operation.
The group described the attack as an “unprovoked act of criminal defiance” by drug kingpins and their collaborators who are desperate to undermine the nation’s counter-narcotics crusade.
“We find the assault on NDLEA personnel in Edo not just reprehensible but also as a direct assault on the sovereignty of Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“It is disheartening that in a country striving to secure its youth from the menace of drugs, criminal networks still believe they can resist lawful operations through violence. The NDLEA’s bravery and restraint in the face of such hostility deserve national commendation.”
The association called on the government and citizens to stand united with the NDLEA in its mission to eradicate drug trafficking and abuse. It emphasised that “the war on drugs is not just a security operation but a national imperative that requires collaborative action” and civil responsibility.
HURIWA urged the government to provide more resources to the NDLEA to enhance its operational capabilities and ensure the prosecution of drug offenders.
