Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has inaugurated a landmark weapon handling training programme for the agency’s officers at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, marking the formal induction of AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols into the agency’s operations for the first time in its 36-year history.
The specialized Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling, held on Monday, is aimed at strengthening the agency’s tactical capacity to confront increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking syndicates.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, Marwa said the initiative reflects the changing realities of the anti-drug war, stressing that drug trafficking organisations have become highly organised, heavily armed and ruthless.
“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. It would be unconscionable to send our officers into harm’s way without the tools and training to protect themselves and the public,” he said.
Marwa described the programme as a significant milestone in the agency’s history and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support in enhancing the operational capacity of the NDLEA.
He also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for providing the initial consignment of firearms and ammunition that enabled the training to commence.
The NDLEA boss disclosed that the procurement of thousands of AK-47 rifles, pistols and ammunition, initiated in 2023 through China North Industries Corporation, has reached its final stage. He added that the weapons would soon be distributed nationwide under a strict accountability framework, with the Nigerian Air Force expected to support their strategic airlift to commands across the country.
Marwa explained that the current course is designed to produce pioneer master trainers who will return to their respective commands to conduct mandatory one-month weapons handling training for all operational personnel before the firearms are deployed.
He urged participants to uphold discipline, safety, professionalism and ethical conduct, reminding them that weapon handling carries enormous responsibility and must always comply with the rule of law and established rules of engagement.
According to him, safety must become a culture within the agency, while the authority conferred by firearms should always be exercised with restraint and accountability.
Marwa expressed satisfaction with the transformation of the NDLEA into a more professional and formidable force against drug cartels, citing unprecedented drug seizures, the dismantling of criminal networks and the prosecution of traffickers in recent years.
He said the induction of tactical weapons mark a new chapter in the agency’s efforts to safeguard officers, strengthen law enforcement operations and enhance national security in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
