Eric Patrick
The Commander of 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brigadier General Baba Tunde Omoparioala, has stated that military barracks under his leadership are drug-free, emphasizing that soldiers do not require marijuana, narcotics, or any illicit substances to carry out their duties effectively.
Speaking on Saturday at a 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) the Brigadier General dismissed the notion that drug use boosts combat ability.
“Are we not fearless? Are we not bold? Why should a soldier claim he needs weed to function? That’s nonsense,” he said.
Sharing a personal encounter, he recounted, “One of them told me, ‘Sir, I need weed to perform.’ I replied, ‘Don’t try that nonsense with me. If you need drugs to function, why were you trained as a soldier?”
He stressed that it is discipline, training, and core military values not substances that define a competent soldier.
“We’ve conducted countless successful operations without weed.
“Any soldier claiming otherwise should be sent for counseling and treatment. If that fails, charge him. We cannot be afraid to confront this menace,” Omoparioala explained.
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He also called on officers to maintain authority and integrity in leadership. “If you’re afraid of your men, you have no business leading them,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address, NDLEA’s Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Zainab Ibrahim, drew a strong connection between substance abuse and violent crimes, including terrorism and banditry.
“No one beheads another human being without being high. No sane person does that,” she stated.
Ibrahim cautioned against the destructive impact of drug addiction on individuals, families, and institutions. She also pushed back against the common excuse that unemployment drives drug use.
“Being idle is no reason to become intoxicated,” she said.