NDLEA: Battling the nexus between drugs and crimes

“I am one of the believers in the theory of crimes that views the abuse and trafficking of illicit substances as enablers of crime and criminality.”

– Gen. Buba Marwa (chairman/CEO of NDLEA, June 2024).

An expert on criminological theories, Paul Goldstein (1985) said that hard drugs cause criminal behaviour with specific regards to those addicted to them through three primary theories, involving psychopharmacological violence, economic compulsive and systemic violence. That is more so, when the drug user has a pressing need to consume them but lacks the necessary funds to do so.

The immediate effect of the hard drugs on the mind and body of the addict may create mental or physical states that somehow trigger aggression. Such a compelling situation may lead to predatory crimes such as burglary, robbery or theft.

As far as drug trafficking is concerned, it has become a source of revenue for organized crime groups, with many of those involved getting engaged in serious crimes such as trading in all manner of firearms and ammunition as well as explosives. Others are into immigration crime and modern slavery.

But the burning issue has metamorphosed into a hydra- headed monster and keeps recurring because when the drugs are illegal the partakers in the illicit market are unlikely to report to the police. It therefore, means that the predators are more likely to prey on them. And it becomes easy for the jungle manta of might -is-right to play out. But it could even get worse, if left unchecked.

As the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Buba Marwa has rightly noted there are empirical and circumstantial evidences on ground, to bolster the connection of hard drug trafficking and abuse to the ever-soaring waves of criminality, especially here in Nigeria.

He made this revelation at the National Youth Conference organised by the Dr. Hope Omeiza-led Vanguard Against Drug Abuse (GVADA)at the detox centre which took place in Abuja, in June, 2024. The theme was tagged: ” The Youths, Mental Health and Nigeria’s Future”. Furthermore, he stated and aptly too that when the youths are addicted to the hard drugs, the tendency for them to develop anti: social behavior becomes high. Unfortunately, it has fuelled insecurity that has sent hundreds of thousands of innocent souls in the country to their early graves.

It would be recalled that Marwa also highlighted this obnoxious and saddening situation back in February 2021. Said he: “Nobody in his right sense will take up arms to kidnap, rape and kill innocent people. Therefore, if we are able to tackle the issue of drug abuse, most of the security challenges the nation is facing would have been solved.” Right on point, is he not? Of course, he is.

And lest we forget, he has over the past three years as the helmsman at the NDLEA raised timely warning over the grave implications of the fast- spreading oddity of drug trafficking and its abuse. For instance, some of the screaming headlines include his statements that: “90 percent of criminalities in Nigeria are linked to drug abuse.” He also revealed that: “5 million Nigerians use hard drugs” and “One in six persons in Kano is a drug addict.” But we cannot continue to tread this smoking path to perfidy, can we? The answer is a definite time “no!” So, what should be done to fashion the best way forward?

According to Marwa, the best option available to us is prevention. Yes, of course. In fact, yours truly strongly shares in that valid position. But as one has been canvassing over the decades, the fight against both drug trafficking and abuse should not be left to the NDLEA alone! For instance, apart from dedicating Chapter 10 of my book titled: ‘How to be a Successful Student’ to the war against smoking, alcoholism and drug abuse, one has enlightened some primary school pupils and students on their dire consequences. That formed part of my motivational lectures at the end-of-academic session lectures, as ingrained in my ‘Reviving Early Academic Development’ (READ) initiative. But much more can be done by others.

That should begin at the home front; right from the family level with parents and caretakers spending quality time with their children and wards. In doing so, they should ask themselves the all-important questions: Do I know where my children are right now and what they are doing? Do I know much about their friends and what social activities they are engaged with? Have I ever taught them about the types, nature of hard drugs and warned them against them? And if perhaps, any of them is already smoking cigarettes, cannabis or is into drinking alcohol, have I taken the needed steps to seek counseling? But that is not all there is to the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).

The time has come for communities, local government councils, traditional and religious institutions, schools and non- governmental organisations (NGOs) to be actively involved in the battle against drug trafficking and abuse because the consequences are already telling on us. That is, as some affected individuals, communities and as a country. That is patently obvious with the widening drug-triggered cycle of crimes and criminality.

In that wise, it is wrong, for some people, especially addicted entertainers to claim that there is nothing wrong with smoking cigarettes and cannabis or drinking alcohol.

That is pure “balderdash,” according to Marwa, who has raised alarm over the increasing abuse of methamphetamine.

Good enough, that he has reminded those feeling unconcerned that even the South-East geo-political zone which used to be calm has become volatile over the past three years, due to drug addiction, especially the younger generation.

With the dire consequences of loss in job opportunities and loss in productivity, for the youth who are supposed to be the engine room for economic development and drivers of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP the future is in a perilous state. The time for prevention of crimes and criminality traced to increasing drug abuse is now! The onus lies on us all.