Agency launches weapons training programme, cites rising threats from armed trafficking networks
By Heapnews
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has begun formally integrating AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols into its operations, marking a significant shift in its enforcement strategy as authorities seek to counter increasingly violent drug trafficking organisations.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, announced the development on Monday during the inauguration of a specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, Marwa said the introduction of the weapons was the first of its kind in the agency’s 36-year history and reflected the changing nature of drug enforcement operations in Nigeria.
“The nature of the war we fight has evolved,” Marwa said. “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 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.”
He said the programme was designed not only to improve operational capability but also to ensure the safe and professional handling of firearms.
Marwa credited President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to strengthen the agency’s operational capacity and commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for providing an initial consignment of firearms and ammunition that enabled the training to commence.
He disclosed that the procurement of additional weapons from China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), initiated in 2023, was nearing completion, with thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition expected to arrive soon.
According to him, a detailed 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.
The ongoing course is expected to produce pioneer master trainers selected from commands nationwide. Upon completion, they will conduct mandatory month-long firearms training for all personnel before the weapons are deployed operationally.
“You are the first. You are the standard-bearers,” Marwa told participants, urging them to establish a culture of professionalism, discipline and safety that would guide the agency’s use of firearms.
He stressed that weapons handling should be approached as a serious responsibility, warning that negligence would not be tolerated. He also urged officers to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law in the use of force.
Marwa said the agency had transformed significantly in recent years, recording major drug seizures, dismantling trafficking networks and prosecuting high-profile offenders.
“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 move comes as Nigerian security agencies continue to contend with organised criminal groups whose activities increasingly overlap with armed violence and transnational trafficking networks.