The Strike Force Corps of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been charged to be ruthless with drug cartels in the country.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), directed the Agency’s operatives to go all out and root out drug barons and cartels from their hideouts across the country.

Marwa gave the charge at the special operations training graduation ceremony for 143 officers of the Strike Force Corps at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, NASI, Jaji, Kaduna State on Monday.

According to the NDLEA boss, the drug scourge in Nigeria is unacceptable with almost 15 million Nigerians abusing substances, 20 per cent of who are addicted, which is three times the global average.

“We are conscious of our job to block and prevent availability of narcotic drugs, and that necessitated the formation of the Strike Force to enhance our capability for complex operations. The Strike Force is the tip of our spear in our interdiction efforts and as such we must keep the tip sharpened and always ready to strike because we need to be two steps ahead of drug barons and cartels operating in the country.

“With the training and graduation of these officers and men today, we serve a notice to the drug barons and cartels who are yet to get the message to quit the criminal trade that these well-trained officers and men are coming to smoke them out as a formidable force anywhere in the country.

“As we equip and arm you well, be ruthless with the criminal gangs and merchants of death. Equally, I will implore you to display professionalism, discipline and respect for human rights in your operations,” he said.

He added that another batch of officers and men of NDLEA would be sent to NASI for similar training in the coming weeks.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, and the Armed Forces for the successes recorded so far in the fight against insecurity in the country.

He tasked them not to rest on their oars because fighting insecurity is not like a football match that ends at the end of 90 minutes.

While reminding the new graduands of their position within the Agency, Gen. Marwa said: “Note that the special nature of your training will require you to serve as a force multiplier to the conventional NDLEA officers in the field.

“Let me warn you of the hazard along the way. It will come in various forms, ranging from physical assaults to stupendous temptations by traders and traffickers of illicit drugs. When the tempests arise, rise above them. Let your sense of duty remain uncompromised. Let patriotism prevail over pecuniary interest. Let no temptation prevent you from discharging your duties to the best of your ability. In whatever situation you find yourself, remember not to forgo your training about the rules of engagement, especially the respect for human rights.”

In his remarks, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Maj.-Gen. M.G. Ali, commended Marwa for repositioning NDLEA for efficiency and relevance within the country’s security architecture.