The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for their professionalism, patriotism and daily sacrifices in their efforts to curb banditry in the North West and other security challenges in parts of the country.
Marwa made the commendation on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 when the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka paid him a courtesy visit at the NDLEA’s National Headquarters in Abuja to seek collaborate NCTC and NDLEA.
He said there’s need to support and encourage the Armed Forces following a viral video of bandits celebrating the ‘capture’ of a military armoured vehicle stuck in a mucky path in Kwashabawa, Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state, adding that the Nigerian military is well placed and capable of containing banditry like they already contained insurgency in the North East.
Marwa urged Nigerians to stand with the military and other security agencies in the ongoing efforts to end all security challenges facing the country. According to him, “man for man, officer to officer, soldier to soldier – the Nigerian Armed Forces personnel are an equal or better match to any of their colleagues anywhere in the world.”
He said this explains their success in peacekeeping operations even before independence and the reason why they are well sought after by the United Nations, adding that the exploits of our armed forces under ECOMOG are still fresh in memory.
He said if the same security forces have been able to contain the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, which was once far worse than the present banditry in the North West, they will in a matter of time end the criminal activities of non-state actors in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and other parts of the region.
The NDLEA boss said rather than fall for the propaganda of criminal elements, the Nigerian public should stand up for massive and unequivocal support to the armed forces and other security agencies in diverse ways.
He commended Gen. Laka for the visit while expressing confidence in his ability to succeed on his task at the NCTC.
