NDLEA, Military to Strengthen Synergy on Drug War

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerian military has promised to strengthen its synergy with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to curtail the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

The assurance was given on Monday by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gusau when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) at the agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja.

Marwa, in his remarks, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces under the leadership of the CDS for their loyalty, sacrifices and hard work to keep the country safe. He also thanked the military for supporting the agency in terms of logistics and training.

The anti-narcotics czar while emphasizing the significance of the partnership between the military and the NDLEA, said substance abuse is at the root of crimes and criminalities across the country.

He said: “The criminal elements rely on drugs to carry out their criminalities and that is why we have been very ferocious in our offensive action against them to cut access and availability of these illicit drugs.

“As a result, in about three years we have arrested 42,105 drug offenders, including 46 barons; seized 7,500 tons of drugs; 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed and 8, 350 offenders convicted while 29,400 drug users have been counselled and rehabilitated within the same period.”

He therefore urged the armed forces to consider constructing central rehabilitation centre and creating rehab facilities in existing military hospitals to attend to the treatment of their personnel that may have issues of substance abuse.

Speaking earlier, the CDS commended Marwa and his management team for the great turn around on the drug war, which has positively changed the negative perception about Nigeria in the international community.

He assured of the continued support of the armed forces to NDLEA in its renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. He said the Agency’s efforts have motivated the military to introduce drug test as a requirement for training and promotion in the armed forces.

He said the nexus between drug abuse and insecurity cannot be over-emphasized, adding that if the nation is able to curb the scourge of substance abuse, the current security challenges would have been drastically reduced. He also said the menace must be tackled holistically while promising to consider the suggestion by the NDLEA boss for the military to have its own central rehabilitation centre.

The CDS said: “We know the challenges of drugs and how the use of illicit drugs has affected Nigeria’s name. And when Nigeria is mentioned abroad, everybody thinks about drugs, but you and your team have turned that around, at least now, people have seen that sense of sincerity in addressing the drug issue in Nigeria. We know it is not easy, because a lot of people have benefited so much from it and they will do anything to sustain their illicit businesses.

“I want to assure you that the members of Nigerian Armed Forces are fully behind you. We are proud of you and what you have been achieving and we will continue to support you until the menace of drugs is totally eliminated in the country. We know the influence of drug use and what it has done to us, creating a lot of issues all over the country, which is very alarming.
“Drug use has slipped into so many places, and for members of the Armed Forces; we’re not excluded. Now we have introduced as part of our recruitment processes and for our people to go for courses, they must take drug test, because this will ensure that personnel of the Armed Forces are doing the right thing and are in the right frame of mind. So, we’ll continue to do that and continue to intensify our efforts.

“”We have seen the number of arrests being made and how the world over now has seen that Nigeria is taking positive measures to address this drug issue, this I think is highly commendable. Theatre Commanders in the North East have seen the effect of drugs. Ideally, some people that will not even be able to carry a knife, when they take drugs, they carry a GPMG. So, this tells you what drugs do, it gives you a lot of fake confidence and with usage over time they become addicted and when they become addicted it becomes dangerous to them and they become a danger to everyone close to them.”

NDLEA, Military to Strengthen Synergy on Drug War

Borno: Divergent viewpoints and the difficult path to peace

By: James Bwala

After more than 14 years of fighting the battles that have decimated Borno state, once regarded as the “home of peace,” a closer examination of the state’s path to peace in northeastern Nigeria has produced unclear viewpoints on the accomplishments and efforts being made by the administration to restore the state to glory. First, there were differences of opinion among the security personnel engaged in the battle. The war has continued up until this point because of the Divergent series.

On the other hand, the terrorists’ breakout within their own ranks While it was hoped that this would put an end to the insurgency’s daily suicides in the Sambisa Forest and around Lake Chad, the end appeared to be far off as both ISWAP and Boko Haram elements grew more powerful as each day came to an end and a new one began. 

The Northeast governors recently had to request help from the appropriate authorities to take the necessary steps and make progress toward peace as a result of this factor and the escalating factions. The call from the governors of the Northeast also revealed local residents’ concerns about the military’s effectiveness and the terrorists’ rising popularity, which contrasts with reports on many Nigerians’ tables who read about local conditions in newspapers and other media.

The local organization, which used sticks and matchsticks to fight the terrorists, is now facing internal conflict over what may be viewed as poor leadership. The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a group of local security personnel, was said to be in a state of open hostility as one faction accused its president of diverting 13 patrol cars.

Reports state that the faction’s president, Lawan Ja’afar, has been suspended by Bashir Abbas, the faction’s current auditor. Baba Shehu Abdulganiyu has been named the temporary president until a permanent leader is chosen, according to Abbas, who made the announcement during a press conference on Sunday in Maiduguri.

Regarding Article 6 Rule 2(vi) of the CJTF Constitution, according to Abbas, “the leadership has unanimously decided to suspend its president in the person of Lawan Ja’afar, who is alleged to have misappropriated some Hilux vehicles given to the organization (CJTF) by the Borno State Government for operational purposes and two other Hilux vehicles given to the organization by the NNPC for operational purposes too.

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However, Lawan Ja’afar, the president of the CJTF, has referred to it as unsubstantiated, unjustified, and deceptive. Insisting that the accusations against him were false, he dared the Abbass-led CJTF to submit the claims for review by the appropriate security authorities. Lawan also insisted that he was still the CJTF president and could not be removed from office by a small group of his colleagues.

“All claims made against me are false. If the Abbas group is sincere, they should contact the appropriate security services to conduct a comprehensive inquiry. Very few of my coworkers can remove me from office by violating the constitution, Ja’afar added. “We’re meeting with a superior security agency right away, and they’ll call the other group to a meeting.”

We have observed over time and in our ongoing experiences in Borno State that factions among the 14-year-old insurgency’s various actors have rather contributed to the drawn-out and ineffective methods of making progress on the side of the military, the local security organization, and the terrorist group itself. Is it possible to genuinely appreciate the path to peace when there are divergent views on that path? Should we hang on to the lines that simply provided us with reassurance for our upcoming worries?

Borno: Divergent viewpoints and the difficult path to peace

Boko Haram insurgents slaughter five farmers in Borno State 

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Emir of Gwoza council area of Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Timta has said that five farmers of his domain were slaughtered over the weekend while busy in their farms. 

The monarch who chatted with newsmen in Maiduguri on Tuesday admitted that, five residents were killed by terrorists in their farmland in between Gwoza town and Limankara axis of Patawe and Tangerang mountainous communities last weekend. 

He said it was sad that there was a renewal of aggression from the insurgents adding that they even abducted three others on their trail to their hideouts. 

He however reacted to some publications in the Social space that  hundreds of aggrieved residents invaded his palace and protested over renewed killings, especially targeted at farmers by terrorists.

The Royal Father who spoke with newsmen through phone also said the terrorists later killed one of the abductees, while the whereabout of the two others were still unknown to residents in the rocky community as at Tuesday. 

Timta noted that the incident is regrettable and condemnable, especially now that the rains have come and majority of people were into farming for livelihood. 

The sad incident attracted sympathizers who trooped into condole with the monarch at the palace in Gwoza town, which is about 130km from Maiduguri, 

The entire Gwoza council area and it’s  capital was under the control of Boko Haram, for sometime until it was liberated by the military in March, 2015 till this day that residents can go about their lives freely and easily. 

” It is not true that residents protested in my palace. The truth of the matter was that, last Saturday while i was in Maiduguri to be part of the Traditional Rulers to receive His Excellency, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima for an official visit to commission projects executed by Governor Babagana Zulum to mark his 100 days in office of his 2nd Term, and flagging- off of projects by the North East Development Commission, (NEDC,) i received a distress call that Boko Haram members have killed five of my people in their farmlands, after abduction of about three others.

“We quickly moved back to Gwoza with some heads of security agencies in the convoy, and when my subjects learnt that i am back to base, some people rushed to my palace and paid condolence visits.

” They also expressed concern over the renewed attacks, which we all agreed including security operatives to take a proactive action in order to forestall future occurrences.

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“I am surprised after a peaceful deliberation with those who paid condolences, some mischievous elements took to the pages of social media claiming that aggrieved members of the public invaded my palace and protested. 

“I want to add that Gwoza town and its environs is peaceful and residents are going about their normal businesses.

“Infact, even the member representing Gwoza Local Government Area at the Borno state House of Assembly,  Abdullahi Abatcha and other concerned individuals called me about the rumour that people protested at my palace, but i told them it is fake news.” Timta stated. 

Meanwhile, terrorists have resorted to harvesting of crops in Wala village of Gwoza town, leaving farmers hopeless.

One of the resident farmers, Haruna Jahawa told reporters in a telephone call that all his maize farmlands along the Wala -Pilka -Gwoza road were invaded and harvested by members of Boko Haram sect at the weekend. 

Boko Haram insurgents slaughter five farmers in Borno State