Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has visited two officers of the agency who are currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja after sustaining severe injuries during a violent mob attack on a notorious drug joint in the Dawaki area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The attack occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, while the officers were carrying out a raid on a well-known drug hub in Dawaki, a suburb that has become a hotspot for illicit drug activities. The mob, reportedly made up of drug users and dealers, attacked the operatives with machetes, sticks, and other dangerous weapons, leaving the two officers with life-threatening injuries before reinforcements could arrive to disperse the crowd.
General Marwa, accompanied by other senior officials of the agency, visited the officers at the National Hospital on Monday, May 25, 2026, to sympathise with them and to assess the quality of care they were receiving. During the visit, Marwa expressed the support of the entire NDLEA management and commended the bravery and dedication of the injured operatives. He emphasised that their sacrifices in the ongoing fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking remain invaluable to the nation. “You are heroes of our nation’s struggle against the menace of drugs. The NDLEA will not abandon you, and your sacrifice will not be in vain,” Marwa was quoted as saying by a source close to the agency.
The NDLEA boss also praised the agency’s medical team and their counterparts at the National Hospital for their prompt response and proper care, which have since stabilised the injured officers. According to hospital sources, both officers underwent emergency surgeries and are now in stable condition, though they remain under close observation. One of the officers sustained deep cuts to the head and arms, while the other suffered fractures and internal injuries from being trampled by the mob. The doctors have expressed optimism about their full recovery, though they caution that rehabilitation may take several months.
The attack on the NDLEA officers occurred during a raid that was part of a broader offensive against drug trafficking and abuse in the FCT. The Dawaki area has long been identified as a major distribution point for illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and synthetic drugs such as tramadol. In recent months, the NDLEA has intensified its operations in the region, leading to numerous arrests and seizures. However, drug cartels and their sympathisers have become increasingly violent, attacking operatives and attempting to intimidate law enforcement. The Dawaki incident is the most severe assault on NDLEA personnel in the FCT this year, raising concerns about the growing boldness of drug networks and the risks faced by frontline officers.
In response to the attack, the NDLEA has launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, with the FCT Police Command assisting in the investigation. No arrests have been announced as of the time of this report, but security sources say intelligence gathering is ongoing and that the agency is determined to bring the attackers to justice. General Marwa has also ordered a review of operational protocols to enhance the safety of officers during raids, including the deployment of additional backup units and improved coordination with local police. He warned that the NDLEA would not be intimidated by such acts of violence and would continue its offensive against drug trafficking with renewed vigour.
The visit by the NDLEA chairman comes at a time when the agency is recording significant successes in its supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. Just days before the Dawaki attack, the NDLEA had intercepted a large consignment of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and arrested several suspects in coordinated raids across the country. The agency has also been actively involved in public sensitisation campaigns, including the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which targets young people in schools and communities. Marwa has consistently emphasised that the fight against drugs requires a combination of enforcement, treatment, and prevention, and he has called on Nigerians to support the NDLEA by providing credible information about drug trafficking activities.
The injured officers, whose identities have been withheld for security reasons, are expected to remain at the National Hospital for at least two more weeks. Their families have expressed gratitude to the NDLEA for the support provided and have appealed for prayers for their quick recovery. Meanwhile, the agency has assured the public that it will continue to protect its personnel and that any attack on its officers will be met with the full force of the law. General Marwa’s visit to the hospital served as a morale booster for the injured operatives and a clear signal that the NDLEA stands firmly behind its men and women who risk their lives daily to keep the nation free from the scourge of illicit drugs.
The Dawaki incident has also drawn condemnation from civil society groups and anti-drug advocacy organisations, who have called on the government to provide better protection for law enforcement personnel operating in high-risk areas. Some have suggested that the NDLEA should be equipped with additional non-lethal defensive tools and that community engagement should be strengthened to reduce hostility toward enforcement operations. As the investigation continues and the injured officers begin their long road to recovery, the NDLEA remains steadfast in its mission, with Marwa reiterating that the agency will not back down in the face of adversity.
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