The Farmers Protection Association of Nigeria (FAPAN) has called for a strategic partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to tackle illicit drug trafficking, drug abuse and rising insecurity in farming communities across the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, the National President of FAPAN, Dr. Bitrus Ibrahim, said the association, which has over 9.7 million members nationwide, was committed to supporting the agency with intelligence from rural communities where criminal activities often thrive.
Describing the meeting as historic, Ibrahim commended the leadership of the NDLEA under its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, for making significant progress in reducing drug trafficking and disrupting illicit drug networks across the country.
He noted that the association had observed a strong connection between drug trafficking, drug abuse and the insecurity affecting farmers, stressing that criminal gangs often occupy forests and farmlands where illicit drugs are cultivated, stored and trafficked.
According to him, the activities of these groups have displaced farmers, destroyed crops and turned productive agricultural areas into zones of violence, leading to declining food production.
“Our members are present in every state, local government and farming community across Nigeria. They are often the first to know when criminal elements occupy forests or when farmers are attacked for refusing to surrender their lands,” he said.
Ibrahim proposed a collaboration that would enable FAPAN to provide community-based intelligence to the NDLEA on locations of illicit drug cultivation, storage facilities and trafficking routes in remote farming areas.
He explained that farmers operate in locations inaccessible by vehicles and often trek long distances into forests, making them well positioned to detect suspicious activities before security agencies.
The FAPAN president also requested NDLEA’s support in securing farming communities during land development and protecting farmers from drug cartels operating in remote forests.
He further advocated joint public enlightenment campaigns to discourage youths in rural communities from participating in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
While acknowledging the association’s willingness to support the agency, Ibrahim said inadequate funding, logistics and security remained major challenges limiting FAPAN’s operations.
He appealed to the Federal Government to continue strengthening the NDLEA through improved funding, arguing that winning the fight against illicit drugs would also help reduce violent crimes and improve national security.
“If we eliminate illicit drug production and trafficking, we will simultaneously fight insecurity, hunger and drug abuse. Our farmers are ready to provide the necessary support and information to help NDLEA succeed,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Director of Operations and General Investigation, Usman Ali Wadar, welcomed the proposed partnership, describing farmers as critical stakeholders in the campaign against illicit drugs.
He said drug abuse could not be addressed by the NDLEA alone, stressing that success would depend on strong collaboration with community-based organisations such as FAPAN.
Wadar noted that Nigeria’s drug problem had grown significantly over the years and called for collective action to reverse the trend.
He acknowledged the importance of intelligence from farmers, especially those living in remote forest communities where criminal networks often establish illicit drug operations.
Drawing from his own operational experience, Wadar recalled participating in difficult anti-crime operations in deep forests and agreed that local intelligence remained essential for successful enforcement.
He assured the association that the NDLEA would work towards establishing effective communication channels for timely intelligence sharing and closer collaboration with farmers across the country.
Wadar also said the agency would explore ways of strengthening cooperation with FAPAN through joint sensitisation campaigns, intelligence gathering and coordinated efforts aimed at protecting farming communities from drug-related criminal activities.
He reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to bringing drug traffickers and operators of illicit drug cultivation sites to justice while urging farmers to remain vigilant and continue supporting the agency’s nationwide anti-drug campaign.
