How we arrested over 77,000 drug suspects, 240 barons – NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has attributed the arrest of 77,859 drug suspects, including 240 high-profile barons, to its shift from reactive enforcement to sustained offensive operations.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, said the arrests were recorded between January 2021 and December 2025.

During the five-year period, the agency also seized more than 14.8 million kilograms of illicit drugs and secured 14,122 convictions.

Marwa disclosed the figures on Tuesday in Dutse, Jigawa State, during the signing of two executive orders by Governor Umar Namadi to combat drug abuse and promote societal reorientation.

“Between January 2021 and December 2025, our balanced approach has yielded unprecedented results with 77,859 arrests, including 240 high-profile drug barons who thought they were untouchable,” he said.

“Over 14.8 million kilograms of illicit substances were intercepted while 14,122 convictions were secured within the period, proving that the era of impunity is over.”

Marwa added that more than 50,000 people had received counselling and rehabilitation across the agency’s 31 treatment centres nationwide.

“In the same vein, over 50,000 individuals have been counselled and rehabilitated across 31 of our treatment centres nationwide, moving from the darkness of dependence to the light of productivity,” he stated.

The NDLEA chairman warned that drug abuse remained a major threat to Nigeria’s young population, national security and economic development.

“Let us be clear, drug abuse is the silent pandemic fuelling the insecurity and economic sabotage we face today. It erodes the productivity of our greatest asset, our youth,” he said.

He noted that the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse initiative had reached more than five million Nigerians with drug-prevention messages.

“Through our War Against Drug Abuse initiative, we haven’t just cleared the streets, we have cleared minds,” Marwa said.

He commended the Jigawa State Government for establishing a task force against drug abuse, describing the initiative as a model other states should emulate.

“Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Umar Namadi, Jigawa is proving that proactive governance is the best antidote to social malaise,” he said.

“I call upon other state governments across the federation to look towards Dutse today and emulate this strategic blueprint for domesticating the war against drug abuse.”