HURIWA raises alarm over elderly Nigerians’ involvement in drug trafficking

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern over what it described as the growing involvement of elderly Nigerians in illicit drug trafficking, warning that the trend reflects a disturbing erosion of the nation’s moral and cultural values.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the rights group said the increasing number of elderly citizens arrested for drug-related offences represents a dangerous shift from the traditional role of elders as custodians of wisdom, moral guidance and communal values.

HURIWA, however, commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), led by Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), for its intelligence-driven operations, describing the agency’s recent successes in dismantling drug trafficking networks and securing convictions as evidence of a transformed and highly professional anti-narcotics institution.

The group said the recent arrest of two elderly men accused of supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, alongside earlier arrests of octogenarians in Abia and Ekiti states for alleged drug-related offences, should serve as a national wake-up call.

According to HURIWA, while all suspects remain innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, the repeated involvement of senior citizens in narcotics-related crimes points to a troubling pattern requiring urgent national attention beyond criminal prosecution.

The association attributed the trend partly to worsening economic conditions affecting many retirees and elderly Nigerians, including inadequate pensions, rising inflation, poor healthcare, increasing living costs and the gradual weakening of traditional family support systems.

It stressed that although poverty cannot justify criminal activity, organised drug syndicates may be exploiting the vulnerability of older citizens, believing they are less likely to attract the attention of law enforcement agencies.

HURIWA also argued that the development reflects a broader decline in Africa’s traditional value system, where elders have historically been regarded as custodians of ethics, culture and spirituality.

The group referenced scholarly work by Henry Wasosa of the Department of Theology, Ethics, Religious Studies and Philosophy at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe, which examined the traditional psychological and spiritual role of African elders as mediators between the living and the spiritual world.

According to HURIWA, the study highlighted how colonisation, Western education, urbanisation and changing religious beliefs have weakened the moral authority traditionally exercised by elders within African communities.

The association noted that this erosion of indigenous values has contributed to declining communal discipline and moral responsibility, making it imperative to revive ethical and cultural education alongside law enforcement efforts.

It called for strategic national advocacy campaigns aimed at discouraging elderly Nigerians from participating in organised drug trafficking while promoting the restoration of traditional family and community values.

HURIWA praised the NDLEA for demonstrating professionalism by targeting criminal networks without regard to age, status or social standing, insisting that equality before the law remains fundamental to constitutional democracy.

The rights group further applauded the agency’s intelligence-led operations across airports, seaports, highways, residential communities, markets, courier services and educational institutions, saying they have significantly disrupted organised narcotics syndicates.

It also commended the NDLEA’s policy of rehabilitating young victims of drug abuse through counselling rather than treating them solely as criminals, describing the approach as consistent with international best practices.

The association expressed satisfaction with the agency’s growing record of successful prosecutions, forfeiture of criminal assets and dismantling of drug trafficking networks, saying these achievements have strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s criminal justice system and improved the country’s international image.

HURIWA also lauded the expanding collaboration between the NDLEA and other security agencies, as well as the agency’s nationwide anti-drug awareness campaigns in schools, markets, motor parks, places of worship and communities.

The group urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, traditional rulers and civil society organisations to play more active roles in protecting young Nigerians from substance abuse through moral instruction, responsible parenting and community vigilance.

It also appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen social protection for elderly citizens by ensuring prompt payment of pensions, improving access to affordable healthcare and expanding economic support programmes for retirees.

While calling for compassion towards elderly Nigerians facing genuine economic hardship, HURIWA maintained that sympathy should never be interpreted as tolerance for criminal conduct capable of endangering the lives of young people.

The association reaffirmed its support for the NDLEA’s anti-drug campaign and urged Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that the fight against illicit drugs requires collective national participation.

According to HURIWA, the recent arrests of elderly suspects and the agency’s increasing record of successful prosecutions represent significant milestones in Nigeria’s efforts to combat organised drug trafficking and protect future generations from the devastating effects of narcotics.