No Place for Drugs in the Barracks — Army Commander Declares
The Commander of the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Katsina, Brigadier General Baba Tunde Omopariola, has firmly declared that military barracks under his jurisdiction are drug-free, emphasizing that soldiers do not require marijuana or any form of narcotics to carry out their duties effectively.
Speaking during a sensitization lecture themed “Drug-Free Workplace and Community,” organized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as part of the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), Brig. Gen. Omopariola debunked the widespread myth that drugs enhance combat performance among troops.
“Are we not fearless? Are we not bold?” he asked rhetorically. “Why should a soldier claim he needs weed to function? That’s absolute nonsense. One soldier once told me, ‘Sir, I need weed to perform.’ I replied, ‘Then you have no business wearing the uniform. You were trained to fight, not to be high.’”
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He insisted that professionalism, discipline, and rigorous military training are the true pillars of combat readiness — not drugs. “We have executed numerous successful operations without any soldier needing to be under the influence. If any soldier thinks otherwise, they should be subjected to counseling and, if necessary, prosecution,” he stated.
Omopariola urged commanders not to fear enforcing discipline among their troops. “If you’re afraid of your own men, then leadership is not for you,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Assistant Commander of Narcotics with the NDLEA, Zainab Ibrahim, delivered a keynote address where she linked drug abuse to rising cases of terrorism, banditry, and violent crimes across the country.
“No one in their right mind commits barbaric acts like beheading another human being without being under the influence of drugs. No sane person does that,” she said.
She warned of the devastating impact of drug addiction, which she said destroys individuals, families, institutions, and national values. “Unemployment is no justification for drug abuse,” she emphasized. “Being idle is not an excuse to seek intoxication.”
The NDLEA and Nigerian Army continue to collaborate on awareness campaigns to ensure that both military environments and the broader community remain drug-free.
By PRNigeria
