The safe rescue of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another abducted person has been described as a demonstration of what coordinated and intelligence-driven security operations can achieve.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), made the assessment while commending the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies involved in the operation.
According to a statement signed by NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Thursday, Marwa described the rescue as a “victory for the nation”, saying the safe return of the young Nigerians to their families reflected the courage, professionalism and unity of purpose of the security agencies.
“The safe return of these young Nigerians to their families is a testament to the courage, professionalism and unity of purpose of our security agencies,” he said.
Marwa said corps members were among the nation’s young people serving their fatherland with hope and idealism, stressing that Nigeria owed them protection.
“As a retired military officer serving under the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu, it is imperative for us to draw public attention to this kind of achievement by our security agencies and equally commend them,” he said.
The NDLEA Chairman also acknowledged other successful rescue operations carried out by security agencies across the country in recent months, saying the operations had freed victims of abduction and restored hope to affected families.
He said every life rescued represented a triumph in the collective fight against criminality, while sustained intelligence-sharing and joint operations remained critical to tackling insecurity.
Marwa further linked the fight against illicit drugs to the broader security challenge, noting that drug trafficking and abuse can fuel violent crime, kidnapping and banditry.
“Where drugs flow, insecurity thrives,” he said, adding that the NDLEA would continue to work with sister security agencies to dismantle networks that fund and fuel criminality.
He said the Agency would also deepen intelligence-sharing and joint operations with other security agencies.
Marwa urged the security agencies to sustain the momentum and called on Nigerians to support ongoing operations by providing timely and credible information.
He also wished the rescued corps members a speedy recovery and full reunion with their families.