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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has claimed that some persons have hatched plans to blackmail the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd).
HUIRWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, told journalists yesterday in Abuja, that the plot was to distract Marwa from exposing drug barons.
He claimed that even Marwa might not be aware of the sinister move, but vowed to expose those involved.
Onwubiko said: “I have a responsibility as a Nigerian, a civil rights activist and one who has supported Nigeria’s renewed efforts to wrestle the country, our youths and indeed our future from the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking to raise the alarm when I see a satanic plot to derail the gains so far made.
“By virtue of our network with diverse stakeholders, we are privileged to stumble on an evil plan by a highly placed member of the government who is at the moment forum shopping for any dirt to blackmail the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd).
“The only justification for this is rabid obsession by this government official to frustrate ongoing fight against the menace of illicit drugs in Nigeria.
“And to achieve this, he must blackmail and tarnish the image of Marwa by any means and at all costs before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Republic, who have shown interest and trust in the capacity of the NDLEA boss to deliver on his given assignment.
“We are by this statement alerting Mr. President, Marwa himself who may not be aware of this and the Nigerian public to this evil plot from the pit of hell.
“We are also using this medium to warn the top official behind this plot that we will not hesitate to publicly name him and expose his evil agenda against the Nigerian State he has been appointed to protect.
“If you’re given a sensitive national assignment to do, please get busy with that and let Mr. President and Nigerians see the results. That way, you won’t be feeling threatened of losing your job to another person because of the President’s consistent insistence of relieving non-performers.
“We will resist attempts to use the privilege and resources of your office to engage in forum shopping for things to tarnish the image of those busy doing their given assignments. And when they cannot find any, then they resort to manufacturing lies to blackmail.”
He added that HURWA would continue to support government officials and institutions doing the right thing but will not hesitate to expose those who abandon their given responsibilities to chasing shadows.
According to Onwubiko, “we have to draw attention to this evil plot early enough before things degenerate and lives are being targeted by officials of same government out of hatred for one another.
“We have seen this happen in the past in our political history and we cannot keep our mouths sealed when quislings are trying to hide under official cloak to return our country to those dark era.”
He highlighted some of the achievements of Marwa which had led to him being blackmailed.
“In that line, we wish to let you know that statistical data seen by the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria indicate that last year the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency seized not less than 6,668,965.17kg (6,668 tons) of illicit drugs from January 2021 to September 2023.
“The NDLEA also arrested 36, 096 drug traffickers, including 40 barons within the period under review.
“This is according to the data on the summary of arrests and seizures made within the period obtained from the agency by our correspondent.
“The data also showed that the agency secured 6,043 convictions in 33 months.
The agency noted that 27,432 clients have been counselled and rehabilitated within this period.
“It also stated that 957.319 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed in the period under review.
“The breakdown of the agency’s activities from January to September 2023, showed that it seized over N25bn.
“With this formidable landmarks, how does anyone who values the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be seen actively attempting to undermine this vicious drug war mounted by NDLEA with the buy-in of the President who himself wants a drug-free Nigeria?
“We appeal to the media in Nigeria to continue to remain vigilant and supportive of the patriotic job that the current hierarchy of NDLEA is doing to rid the country of hard drugs and the social evils that come from drug addiction such as terrorism and organised and sophisticated crime against humanity,” he detailed.
