The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has begun equipping its officers with AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols as part of efforts to strengthen operations against increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking syndicates.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), during the inauguration of a specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.
The training, which covers the use of AK-47 Rifle Type 56-1 and HS-9/CF98A pistols, marks the first formal induction of such weapons into the agency’s operations since its establishment 36 years ago.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Col. Murtala Aminu, Marwa said the move became necessary because drug trafficking organisations had become more sophisticated and heavily armed.
“The nature of the war we fight has evolved. Drug trafficking organisations are no longer mere commercial criminal enterprises; they are armed, organised, and ruthless,” he said.
He added, “Our officers face increasing danger in the field, and it would be unconscionable for this Agency to send men and women into harm’s way without the tools and training to protect themselves and the public they serve.”
Marwa disclosed that the procurement of the weapons, initiated in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation, was nearing completion, with thousands of firearms and ammunition expected to be delivered soon.
According to him, a distribution and accountability framework has already been approved, while the Nigerian Air Force will assist in transporting the weapons to NDLEA commands across the country.
He explained that the first batch of trainees had been selected from commands nationwide and would return to their respective formations to conduct a compulsory one-month firearms training programme for other personnel before the weapons are deployed.
“You are the first. You are the standard-bearers. The operational culture, the safety ethos and the professional discipline that will define how the NDLEA handles weapons all begin here,” Marwa told the participants.
He urged officers to handle the firearms responsibly, stressing that discipline and professionalism must guide every operation.
“Weapons handling is not a privilege; it is a grave responsibility. Every firearm must be treated with the seriousness it demands at all times,” he said.
The NDLEA boss also warned that negligence would not be tolerated, noting that the use of firearms must always be guided by restraint, sound judgement, the rule of law and established rules of engagement.
Marwa commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to improve the agency’s operational capacity and thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser for providing the initial consignment of firearms and ammunition used for the training.
He described the introduction of the tactical weapons as another milestone in the agency’s campaign against drug trafficking.
“I am proud of the extraordinary strides this Agency has made. We have recorded unprecedented seizures, dismantled criminal networks and brought justice to traffickers who once believed themselves untouchable. The induction of more arms into our operational inventory is the next chapter in that story, and it is a chapter that must be written with honour,” he said.
