Illicit drug trade fuelling terrorism, banditry in Nigeria

By Catherine Irene

Ahmad Lawan, Nigeria’s president of Senate, has linked illicit hard drug trade to the growing terrorism and banditry in the country. He said this when the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The Senate President identified Nigeria as a major transit route for hard drugs, which proceeds he said are funneled into terrorism financing.

“Drug peddlers pass their drugs through Nigeria – cannabis, heroin and possibly even cocaine.

“We believe that this has to stop, because the proceeds of such activities fund terrorism, they fund banditry, you wonder how the bandits have RPGs and these massive arms that they have”, he stated.

“Definitely, these are some acquisition provided by some barons, not the bandits themselves.

He also lamented the rising illegal drug use in the country and urged a synergistic approach by relevant agencies in curbing the menace.

The Senate President promised that the NDLEA would restructure for efficient service delivery.

“I believe that this agency needs restructuring. Now that you have taken over, we should go the whole haul to restructure the agency, not piece meal touches, because we need to get it right,” the ranking senator said.

Marwa could not agree more on Nigeria’s drug situation, stating “Nigeria is in a state of siege today.”