The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has denied recruiting underaged Nigerians.
The photograph has drawn a heavy backlash, as netizens accused the anti-narcotics agency of recruiting a teenager.
Reacting via its X page on Saturday NDLEA in a statement titled ‘Newly trained NDLEA personnel on viral photo not underage’, the agency further knocked Nigerians for body-shaming.
The post read: “The newly trained personnel of the Agency whose photo appears above (arrowed) is not underage as being insinuated since this picture taken during the Passing out Parade of2,500 Narcotic Agents and Narcotic Assistants on Thursday 19th October 2023 got to the social media space.
“The personnel may have small body frame but is indeed qualified in terms of academic and age qualifications required for his cadre, Narcotic Assistant II, which include secondary school certificate and being 18 years of age.
“Uncomplimentary comments about his size may be tantamount to body shaming,” it added.
