Tinubu’s Pardon of 70 Drug Lords Unprecedented in World History — Critics Urge President to Scrap NDLEA

A wave of outrage has trailed reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to 70 convicted drug lords, a move critics have described as unprecedented in history and a devastating blow to Nigeria’s anti-narcotics war.

Checks by several observers revealed that such a large-scale pardon for drug-related offenders has never occurred anywhere in the world, prompting widespread condemnation from citizens, activists, and policy analysts.

One prominent critic remarked,

“The pardon granted to 70 drug lords by President Tinubu is unprecedented in history. It has never happened in the history of the world. My advice to the President is to scrap the NDLEA entirely, because his action has made a beautiful nonsense of all the agency’s efforts since inception.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), has been widely praised for its aggressive campaigns and high-profile arrests in the fight against drug trafficking. However, this development has raised concerns that years of progress may now be undermined.

Security experts warn that the decision could embolden criminal networks, weaken the morale of NDLEA operatives, and harm Nigeria’s international reputation in the global fight against drugs.

Public outrage continues to grow on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the rationale behind the pardons and demanding transparency in the process.

As of press time, the Presidency and the Ministry of Justice have yet to issue an official statement clarifying the details surrounding the controversial decision.