Gunmen on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, shot dead Tanko Amfani Ribah, an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics. The agent was murdered during an operation in the northern state of Kano. At least 59 anti-drug trafficking officers have died in Nigeria within two years.

In a statement on Friday morning, Concerned Officers asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the embattled chairman of the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, for incompetence, humongous corruption and outright theft.

Mr. Musa Ahmed Yusuf, who signed the statement on behalf of “Concerned Officers”, reacted furiously to claims by Mr. Abdallah on Thursday that those who want him sacked were fronting for drug barons.

NDLEA spokesman Jonah Achema had said in a statement that the individuals who go by the name “Concerned NDLEA Officers”, using one pseudo name Musa Ahmed Yusuf to circulate petitions against the Chairman/Chief Executive and Directors of the Agency are “men of the underworld who are troubled by the unprecedented counter-narcotic strategies being put in place by the Chairman/Chief Executive”.

Achema advised that “the media should not allow itself to be misled by the well rehashed and recycled petition by these desperate individuals who keep changing the date of the petition that they have been circulating for months”.

He said some months back, NDLEA “had painstakingly responded to all the so-called issues raised in a well publicized Press Release”.

According to him, “The Agency is, however, delighted that some credible media organizations have rebuffed entreaties of these unscrupulous elements by insisting that the petitions be supported with facts, which they have been unable to provide. This explains why the blackmailers have resorted to the social media”.

But NDLEA’s statement was met with fury on Friday. The Concerned Officers described it as an insult and a sad way to reward the 59 officers who have died under the failed leadership of Abdallah. The high number of casualty under the current chairman of the agency, the neglect of the officers, the disappearance of funds and the total neglect of the agency were some of the reasons motivating them.

“The reaction of the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) retired Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah to allegations of incompetence and insensitivity to the plight of officers is a slap on the Buhari led government and anti-corruption agencies in the country,” the Concerned Officers said.

“On the 3rd of January 2018, armed bandits shot and killed Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Tanko Amfani Ribah in Kano during an operation. This brings the total number of officers that have died under Abdallah to fifty-nine in two years.

“It is an insult to our sensibilities for Abdallah to sermonize on life expectancy after neglecting the welfare of officers. We are concerned because of the disturbing number of casualties and the lack of payment to the families of the late officers.

“We are equally worried because of the amount of money Abdallah has spent on injudicious foreign travels when no payment has been made to the fallen heroes. We dare Abdallah to show proof of payment to the families of these fallen heroes. Besides, the worrisome deaths of our fellow officers without soccour, we are three ranks below our normal ranks.

“How can Abdallah call the legitimate demand for justice as blackmail? How can you describe valid allegations as worn-out? It is wrong to beat a child and expect the child not to cry. Under normal circumstances, Abdallah ought to be in jail for financial impropriety and administrative nonchalance.

“Can Abdallah deny the fact that officers have been stagnated in one rank? Can Abdallah deny the total blackout at the Ikoyi Lagos office of the Agency in the past two years? Can Abdallah deny the non-payment of imprest to commanders since he assumed office? Can Abdallah deny the escalating cases of drug trafficking and abuse in the country since he assumed office?

“Can Abdallah deny that the names of late officers in the past two years are false? Why has he not told us how many foreign trips he has made in two years? What then is blackmail? Why did Abdallah fail to provide life insurance policy and intensive medical care for officers? Why did he fail to regularize promotion?

“We call on the relevant Agencies of government to come to our rescue. Until there is justice, we shall not relent in pushing forward our valid demands”.

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