The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern over the growing number of attacks targeting operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), warning that anti-drug enforcement activities in the country are becoming increasingly risky.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group condemned the recent assault on NDLEA personnel during a narcotics operation in the Dawaki area of Abuja, where two officers reportedly sustained severe injuries after being attacked by suspected hoodlums.
According to HURIWA, the incident reflects the rising confidence and aggression of drug trafficking networks and criminal gangs operating within Nigeria.
The injured officers, identified as Ayegh Dooyun Zachariah and Shehu Jamil Ibrahim, are currently receiving medical attention at the National Hospital in Abuja after the operation, which reportedly targeted a known drug hub.
The rights organisation stressed that such assaults should not be dismissed as ordinary criminal acts, insisting they pose a serious threat to national security.
HURIWA stated that the increasing violence against NDLEA personnel indicates that the fight against drug trafficking is becoming more dangerous, especially for officers working on the frontlines.
The association further linked drug abuse and trafficking to wider security challenges across the country, including terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult violence and organised gang crimes.
Despite the attack, the group commended the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, for visiting the injured operatives and reassuring them of institutional support and proper medical care.
HURIWA described Marwa’s visit as a morale-boosting gesture that demonstrated leadership and concern for officers risking their lives in the nation’s anti-drug campaign.
The organisation also praised the NDLEA management for providing welfare support, commendation letters and medical assistance to the affected personnel.
Calling for urgent action, HURIWA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to establish a Special NDLEA Hazard Trust Fund to support operatives injured or killed while carrying out anti-drug operations.
The group argued that NDLEA officers work under highly dangerous conditions comparable to combat environments and therefore deserve stronger welfare packages, insurance protection and compensation systems.
It proposed that families of officers who lose their lives in active service should receive immediate financial compensation, while injured personnel should benefit from lifelong medical treatment, rehabilitation and insurance coverage through the proposed fund.
HURIWA also appealed to the National Assembly to enact legislation requiring major companies in Nigeria to contribute four per cent of their annual post-tax earnings to sustain the proposed trust fund.
According to the organisation, the anti-drug campaign is vital to economic stability, social peace and national development, adding that the responsibility should not rest solely on government.
The association further urged security agencies to intensify intelligence-based operations against drug cartels and ensure those responsible for attacks on NDLEA operatives are arrested and prosecuted.
It also called on Nigerians to stop protecting drug traffickers and criminal gangs within their communities, warning that failure to confront narcotics-related crimes could deepen insecurity across the country.
HURIWA reaffirmed its support for NDLEA officers nationwide and urged the Federal Government to treat the anti-drug war as a major national security issue requiring sustained funding and emergency institutional backing.