The Commander of 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brig.-Gen. Babatunde Omopariola, has issued a stern warning to officers and soldiers under his command, declaring that any personnel caught smoking weed or taking illicit drugs will be sanctioned.
Speaking on Saturday during the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) at the brigade’s officers’ mess in Katsina, Omopariola charged his personnel to confront and report drug use among colleagues.
According to him, drug addiction is draining Nigeria’s workforce and endangering the country’s future. He urged officers and men of the brigade to steer clear of illicit drugs, particularly within the barracks.
“Drug abuse is a destructive force eroding both the social and medical foundations of the country,” the commander said.
“We must be ready to take decisive action against anyone found guilty if we truly want a drug-free society,” he added.
Omopariola called on parents and guardians to play an active role in preventing drug use among youths, stressing that such habits often begin early in life.
He also dismissed the notion that soldiers need drugs to display courage on the battlefield. “You don’t need to smoke weed to perform. Are we not fearless? Are we not bold?” he asked rhetorically.
The commander emphasised that the fight against drugs is critical for boosting national productivity, safeguarding public health, and ensuring social stability.
At the event, guest lecturer Zainab Ibrahim, a senior official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), linked the nation’s insecurity to the scourge of drugs.
“There is no terrorism, no banditry, no prostitution, no ritual killings that does not have drug abuse at its root,” she said.
Ibrahim rejected the argument that unemployment leads to drug use. “There are unemployed people living decent, drug-free lives. Joblessness is not an excuse to do drugs,” she stated.
She further educated the audience on the dangers of both legal and illegal substances, noting that “even kola nuts, tea, and coffee can alter mood, hence they can be drugs also.”
The NDLEA official decried the misuse of over-the-counter medications and highlighted how many Nigerians continue to access controlled substances such as Rohypnol and Pentazocine illegally.
She called for a national awakening on the issue. “We must raise a national consciousness. It demands a collaborative effort from the government, civil society organisations, families, and individuals,” Ibrahim said.
