The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced the induction of assault rifles and advanced pistols into its operational structure for the first time since the agency was established 36 years ago, in a move aimed at strengthening its capacity to confront increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking syndicates.
The landmark initiative was inaugurated on Monday by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, during the opening of a specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.
The course, which focuses on the handling of AK-47 Type 56-1 rifles and HS-9/CF98A pistols, is expected to produce the agency’s first cadre of certified firearms instructors who will subsequently train officers across the country’s commands before the weapons are deployed for operational duties.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, Marwa said the initiative was a response to the evolving nature of drug trafficking, noting that criminal syndicates had become increasingly armed, organised and violent.
“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. Our officers face increasing danger in the field, and it would be unconscionable to send men and women into harm’s way without the tools and training to protect themselves and the public they serve,” he said.
Marwa stressed that the programme was not simply about introducing firearms into the agency’s operations but about enhancing the safety of personnel while improving the NDLEA’s effectiveness against organised crime.
He attributed the milestone to the support of President Bola Tinubu, whom he commended for prioritising the strengthening of the agency’s operational capabilities. He also acknowledged the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for facilitating the immediate release of an initial consignment of firearms and ammunition, enabling the commencement of the training.
Providing an update on the procurement process, Marwa disclosed that the acquisition of the weapons, initiated in 2023 through China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), had entered its final phase.
He said thousands of AK-47 rifles, pistols and ammunition were expected to arrive in the country shortly, adding that the agency had already approved a comprehensive accountability and distribution framework to ensure transparent deployment of the weapons.
According to him, the NDLEA is also collaborating with the Nigerian Air Force to airlift the firearms to commands nationwide for secure distribution.
Marwa described the pioneer trainees as the foundation of the agency’s future firearms handling culture, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and safety.
“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,” he said.
He reminded participants that handling firearms is a serious responsibility rather than a privilege, emphasising that technical competence must always be guided by ethics, restraint, sound judgment and strict adherence to the rules of engagement and the rule of law.
“The authority conferred by firearms should never be abused but exercised responsibly in protecting lives and safeguarding the public,” he added.
Marwa described the introduction of tactical weapons as another milestone in the agency’s ongoing transformation into a more professional and operationally effective institution.
He noted that the NDLEA had in recent years recorded unprecedented seizures of illicit drugs, dismantled major trafficking syndicates and secured convictions against high-profile drug traffickers.
“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.
The agency has intensified its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse in recent years, resulting in record narcotics seizures, the arrest of suspected traffickers and the destruction of cannabis plantations across several states.
The formal arming of selected operational personnel is expected to enhance officers’ ability to protect themselves during high-risk interdiction operations and improve the agency’s capacity to confront increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking networks.
