Nigerian Army Sensitises Over 300 Yobe Students on Drug Abuse, National Security

The Nigerian Army has sensitised more than 300 students in Yobe State on the dangers of drug and substance abuse, highlighting the role of education in protecting young people and strengthening national security.

The awareness campaign was organised by Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Government Girls Unity College in Damaturu.

The programme, themed “Education as a Strategic Tool for Combating Drugs and Substance Abuse: Impact on National Security,” brought together students from schools across the state.

Sector 2 Commander, Brigadier General Edet Effiong, led the campaign and spoke on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu.

Effiong described drug abuse as a serious threat to the well-being and future of young people, warning that its effects could spread beyond individuals to families, communities and national security.

He urged the students to make responsible decisions and use education and discipline to protect themselves from harmful substances.

“Education, discipline and positive choices must be your defence against harmful substances,” he told the students.

The commander also linked drug abuse prevention to broader security efforts, noting that vulnerable young people could be exploited by criminal and terrorist networks. He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to community awareness and collaboration with relevant government agencies.

The Special Guest of Honour, Idriss Mohammed Fune, Director of Schools Management at the Yobe State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, commended the initiative and encouraged students to share the anti-drug message with their peers, families and communities.

The event featured presentations by facilitators from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while students received writing materials and souvenirs.

The Army said the campaign forms part of the non-kinetic approach to ongoing operations in the North-East, combining military activities with preventive initiatives aimed at reducing factors that contribute to crime and insecurity.