NDLEA warns that drug abuse and youth radicalisation are key drivers of terrorism in Nigeria. Calls for stronger collaboration and grassroots empowerment

Drug abuse youth radicalisation has been identified by the NDLEA as a rising threat contributing to terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria. At the 2025 BRAVE-IT Breakfast Meeting in Abuja, NDLEA Chairman Brig.

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Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), represented by Muhammed Bashir Ibrahim, warned that extremist groups are targeting unemployed, drug-dependent youths to advance their agenda.

“Some insurgents and suicide bombers are deliberately drugged before operations to suppress fear and conscience,” he revealed.

According to the agency, drug trafficking is also funding criminal and terrorist activities across regions through weak borders and community structures.

Marwa emphasised the urgent need for multi-agency collaboration and community empowerment. He praised BRAVE-IT’s efforts to strengthen grassroots resilience and called for sustained citizen engagement.

“We speak the language of the youth—social media. We are live every Friday on X-space and maintain a 24/7 toll-free help line.”

Under his leadership, NDLEA has made significant progress, including the seizure of over 10 million illicit drugs, 57,000 arrests, 10,000 convictions, and the rehabilitation of more than 22,000 individuals.

“We’ve dismantled key drug networks and arrested over 65 major barons,” he added.

Sir AK Peters, National Coordinator of BRAVE-IT, echoed these concerns and criticised decades of poor governance.

“Security can no longer be left to the police and military alone. Citizens must play an active role,” he said. He urged the government to prioritise collaboration and political will.

“Our goal is to have residents of vulnerable communities build resilience and join hands with security agencies to flush these threats out of our system.”

He added, “Our armed forces have the capability to end this war. But sustained community engagement is key to long-term national peace and stability.”

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The roundtable, themed “Pathway: Inter-agency collaboration and citizens’ cooperation in the fight against kidnapping, insurgency, and terrorism,” was hailed as a platform for urgent dialogue and strategic action.