NDLEA Boss Marwa Calls for Protection of Girl-Child Against Drug Abuse, Exploitation
...Seeks Partnership with Traditional Institutions
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has called for the protection of the girl-child from societal factors that drive girls into drug abuse and exploitation.
Marwa made the call while delivering his remarks at the public presentation of the book, “In The Shadow of the Neem Tree”, written by his daughter, Barrister Mariam Marwa-Abdu, in Kaduna on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
He argued that by protecting the girl-child, the family is strengthened and, by protecting the family, the nation is secured.
Marwa noted that the effort to protect the vulnerable in society should not be left to the government and non-governmental organisations alone but must be embraced by every stakeholder, including traditional institutions.
“As the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, I see firsthand every day how systemic vulnerabilities like poverty, abuse, and lack of education drive women and youth toward drug abuse and exploitation,” he affirmed.
“Advocacy like Mariam’s is the first line of defence. We cannot leave this battle to the government or non-governmental organisations alone. We need the partnership of our revered traditional institutions, led by custodians of culture like His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, to shift the cultural paradigm. We must protect our daughters, educate them, and give them the wings to fly.”
The NDLEA boss commended the author for her courage, intellect and compassion, saying she had made him, as her father, and the entire family incredibly proud.
Marwa urged the gathering to ensure that the message conveyed in the pages of the book reached every corner of society.
Speaking on the significance of the event, he said: “As a father, today holds a very special, symbolic meaning for me. They say a fruit does not fall far from the tree, and today, Mariam has proven that the roots of literacy and advocacy run deep in our family. I have always believed in the power of the written word to reshape society, a passion that led me to author three books myself.
“Today, I look at my children with immense gratification. With this brilliant publication by Mariam: Abu set the pace for his siblings, with his work proudly published and available on Amazon; Colonel Mohamed Marwa has institutionalised his thoughts, having authored three books and co-authored the fourth one with me already; Dr. Zainab has lent her voice to academia and society with two books to her credit; and now, Barrister Mariam cements this family milestone as our fourth child to become a published author.
“To see all four of my eldest children, who are all coincidentally lawyers, pick up the pen to fight societal ills and document human experiences is the greatest legacy a father could ask for. We have become practically a family of authors!”
Marwa noted that the book, “In The Shadow of the Neem Tree,” tackles an issue that is both heartbreaking and urgent — the reality of young girls forced into early marriages and the devastating consequences that follow.
He emphasised that “The Neem Tree” is a common sight in northern communities, providing shade from the scorching sun. “Yet, ironically, under some of these very shades, silent traditional arrangements occur that eclipse the bright futures of our young daughters. Early marriage robs a girl of her childhood, her education, her health, and her potential to contribute meaningfully to society.”
Marwa mentioned that the author uses her legal background and storytelling prowess to shine a harsh but necessary light on what he described as society’s dark corners, thereby forcing society to confront the harmful consequences of the practice.
The author, Mrs. Mariam Marwa-Abdu, who is the founder of the Women and Children’s Rights and Empowerment Foundation (WCREF), stated that the book is not just a piece of fiction but a literary manifesto of her lifelong mission.
Mariam revealed that through her NGO, which she founded in 2011, she has spent over a decade translating the words in the book into direct action.
In his remarks, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, who was the royal father of the day and was represented by Architect Haruna Abubakar Bamalli, the Barden Kerarriyan Zazzau and District Head of Basawa, expressed the hope that the event “will act as a springboard for individual and collective development.”
