Nigerian Military Capable of Containing Banditry Like Insurgency – Marwa

Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has assured Nigerians that the military is fully capable of containing banditry just as it did with insurgency. This statement comes in the wake of a viral video showing bandits celebrating the alleged capture of a military armored vehicle stuck in the mud in Kwashabawa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi on Tuesday, Marwa made these remarks during a courtesy visit by Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, to the NDLEA’s National Headquarters. Marwa emphasized the need to support and encourage the Armed Forces in their efforts to address the security challenges facing the nation.

He stated, “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. Their success in peacekeeping operations even before independence is the reason why they are well sought after by the United Nations. The exploits of our armed forces under ECOMOG are still fresh in memory.” Marwa recalled his tenure as Defence Adviser at Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, highlighting that Nigerian troops were highly regarded for their professionalism and effectiveness. He urged Nigerians to support the military and security agencies, noting that these forces have spent the past 15 years fighting an asymmetrical war against an elusive enemy in difficult terrain. He further noted that if the Nigerian military could contain the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East—a threat once considered far worse than the current banditry in the North West—they would also be able to end the criminal activities of non-state actors in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and other affected regions.

Marwa warned against falling for the propaganda of criminal elements and called for massive and unequivocal support for the armed forces. He suggested that public support could come in various forms, such as encouraging words, scholarships for the children of fallen soldiers, and empowerment grants for their widows and families. Earlier in the meeting, General Laka highlighted the connection between drug abuse and crime, noting that drugs often fuel various forms of criminality, including terrorism. He expressed his desire for collaboration between the National Counter Terrorism Centre and the NDLEA, given the agency’s significant achievements, including over 50,000 arrests in three years. Laka also emphasized the importance of strategic communication and sensitization campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse and its link to crime and terrorism.