The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to tighten surveillance over forests and rural communities to prevent drug cartels from using them as bases for illicit drug production and trafficking.
Marwa made the call on Saturday at the 10th Akinale Day celebration and the first coronation anniversary of the Towulade of Owu Akinale, Oba Oluseyi Ayodeji Adewole Adediran, Otileta I, in Ogun State.
This comes in the wake of the recent discovery of industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratories operated by a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel in the forests of Ogun and Oyo states.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA boss urged royal fathers and community leaders, particularly in the Southwest, to remain vigilant by monitoring the activities of strangers in their domains and ensuring proper background checks on individuals seeking to acquire farmlands in rural areas.
“We cannot afford to ignore suspicious activities in our forests and communities,” Marwa said, stressing that traditional institutions are strategically positioned to help prevent criminal networks from gaining a foothold.
He noted that the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking cannot be won by security agencies alone, calling for stronger collaboration with traditional rulers, parents and community leaders.
Marwa also urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities and watch for early signs of substance abuse, warning that drug addiction affects people regardless of age, social status or economic background.
Addressing young people, he cautioned them against the use of illicit drugs, describing substance abuse as a destructive path that only deepens personal and societal challenges.
He further encouraged the Royal Council and community leaders in Owu Akinale to establish community-based advocacy networks to make the town hostile to drug traffickers while providing support for individuals battling substance use disorders.
Speaking about his relationship with the monarch, Marwa described his attendance at the event as “a pilgrimage of friendship, respect and deep-seated admiration,” recalling a friendship that spans nearly two decades.
He praised Oba Adediran’s leadership, saying the qualities he displayed as leader of the Lisabi Youths continue to define his reign as the Towulade of Owu Akinale.
The event was attended by political leaders, prominent traditional rulers and other dignitaries.