The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, retired Maj.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Monday, said terrorists and kidnappers now live in cannabis-growing communities.

Marwa made the statement in Akure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State ahead of the Alternative Development Project campaign targeted at engaging illicit drug growers in the state.

He said the agency created the Alternative Development Project unit to discourage peasant farmers from growing illicit drugs, especially cannabis sativa.

According to him, the programme, which will not stop the enforcement role of the agency, is another way to combat terrorists and other criminals who now stay close to where illicit drugs are produced.

Marwa said drug use prevalence in Nigeria was unacceptably high, with about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 using drugs, based on the 2018 United Nations drug use survey.

He said the figure meant that one in seven Nigerians within the age bracket use drugs, adding that the Alternative Development Project campaign would commence in Ondo State.

The NDLEA chairman said the agency had convicted 128 drug barons in the last five years and disclosed that of the 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances seized within the same period, over 75 per cent was cannabis sativa.

According to him, between 70 and 75 per cent of drug users in Nigeria consume cannabis sativa.

“The Boko Haram, the terrorists, the kidnappers — in fact, the kidnappers now, through our intelligence sources, have been shown to live among the cannabis-cultivating communities in the deep forests.

“And that makes sense to them. Why not establish a base where the drugs are readily available?

“In Ondo State, the drug use prevalence is 17 per cent, which is approximately 400,000.

“In 2025, the NDLEA in Ondo State made 336 arrests, with seizures of 22,316 kilogrammes of illicit substances, convicted 62 offenders, seized and destroyed 207,000 kilogrammes of cannabis from plantations and farms.

“We have a counselling and rehabilitation centre here; we have treated 243 people. But more significantly, Your Excellency, Ondo State is the highest producer of cannabis in Nigeria for several reasons, including the climate and the nature of the soil. It encourages this type of trade,” he said.

Marwa, who appreciated the governor for his efforts in the fight against illicit drugs, said the agency was carefully reviewing its law-enforcement strategy and had decided to adopt alternative approaches instead of constant raids and arrests.

In his remarks, Aiyedatiwa applauded Marwa for leading the initiative under his office.

Aiyedatiwa praised the NDLEA boss for his efforts and commitment toward ensuring that society is rid of illicit drugs.

“We, as government, will support you in any way that we can to ensure that we achieve the needed success. We will look into the direction of having our own alternative development programme like yours,” he said. (NAN)

The Niger State Police Command have arrested a 16-year-old suspect and three other persons over alleged drug-related offences, kidnapping and armed robbery in different parts of the state.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Niger Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun.

According to the statement, the teenage suspect was arrested on January 8, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. in the Kantoma area of Suleja following reports that suspected hoodlums were operating in the area.

“Information received indicated that some hoodlums were sighted around Kantoma area of Suleja, smoking suspected cannabis,” the statement read.

Abiodun said operatives attached to ‘B’ Division, Suleja, were mobilised to the scene, adding that the suspects attempted to flee on sighting the police.

“On sighting the Police team, the hoodlums took to their heels but one Usman Aliyu, 16 years, was arrested within the area with four cutlasses, one jackknife and six sachets of illicit tablets,” the statement said.

On the suspect’s admission, the police spokesperson stated,“ The suspect confessed to having been selling the drugs to different persons in the area.”

He added that the suspect was arraigned in court for prosecution after investigation.

The statement also disclosed the arrest of three other suspects over alleged kidnapping and armed robbery activities.

“On 16th January, 2026, based on a tip-off, Police operatives of the FID STS arrested three suspects; Mamman Bello, 18 years; Ibrahim Adamu, 20 years; and Umar Abubakar, 25 years,” the statement said.

According to the police, Bello and Adamu were arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, following intelligence that suspected kidnappers had relocated from Niger State to a forest in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

“During interrogation, it was revealed that Ibrahim joined the group from Beji while Bello also joined from Ogbomosho, and both confessed to different kidnapping activities within the State,” the statement read.

The police added that the suspects were planning to abduct another victim before their arrest and are currently undergoing further investigation.

On Umar Abubakar, the statement said he was arrested in Garatu for his involvement in an armed robbery incident in Beji.

“He confessed to the crime and mentioned others as Wode, Black, Moh’d and one other,” the statement said.

The command  further disclosed that, “they sold the motorcycle at the rate of six hundred thousand naira at Tunga-Mallam and shared the proceeds,” adding that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

The Gombe State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the neutralisation of three suspected bandits, the recovery of arms and ammunition, and the rescue of kidnapped victims following coordinated security operations across border communities in the state.

Speaking in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed that security forces had earlier thwarted an attempted attack by bandits on Friday due to heavy deployment across vulnerable areas.

“On Friday, they (bandits) tried to attack. Unfortunately for them, we have made serious deployments around that axis of Pindiga, Billiri, and Shongom, which are the state’s border communities. The bandits couldn’t make it,” he said.

According to him, the attackers later struck in the early hours of Saturday at Garin Galadima in the Lambo community.

“On Saturday morning, by 3 am, they went to Garin Galadima, Lambo, where they killed one and abducted five,” he added.

Abdullahi said the attack triggered an immediate response from security forces and local vigilantes.

“On hearing that the police, hunters and other security outfits mobilised and followed them,” he said.

He explained that the pursuit resulted in a fierce gun battle between security operatives and the bandits.

“This led to a serious exchange of fire. We neutralised three bandits, recovered two AK-47s, four magazines and four motorcycles, and also rescued three of the victims.

“Unfortunately, one sustained a gun wound but was later confirmed dead at the hospital,” he added.

The police spokesperson further revealed that a large cache of ammunition was recovered from the fleeing suspects.

He added, “We recovered 120 shells of live ammunition.”

Abdullahi assured residents that security operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects, noting that many may have escaped with injuries.

The Gombe State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, particularly in border communities prone to criminal incursions, while urging members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely information.