NDLEA arms officers with AK-47s to fight drug cartels

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has commenced the formal induction of AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols into its operational arsenal as part of efforts to strengthen its capacity to confront increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking syndicates across the country.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), 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.

According to a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the training covers the handling of AK-47 Rifle Type 56-1 and HS-9/CF98A pistols and marks the first time in the agency’s 36-year history that such weapons are being formally inducted into its operations.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Col. Murtala Aminu, Marwa said the decision was informed by the changing nature of the fight against drug trafficking, noting that criminal organisations had become heavily armed and more sophisticated.

“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 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. This programme is, therefore, not just about firearms; it is about the preservation of lives and the projection of institutional strength,” he said.

Marwa disclosed that the arms procurement process, initiated in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation, had reached its final stage, with thousands of firearms and ammunition expected to be delivered soon.

He said a distribution and accountability framework had already been approved, while the Nigerian Air Force would assist in airlifting the weapons to NDLEA commands nationwide.

According to him, the pioneer participants in the training were selected on merit from various commands and would return to their formations to conduct a mandatory one-month weapons handling training for all personnel before the firearms are deployed for operations.

“The weight of that responsibility should not be lost on you. 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.

Marwa cautioned the trainees to exercise the highest level of discipline and professionalism in handling the firearms.

“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.

He also warned that the agency would not tolerate negligence, stressing that firearm proficiency must be guided by restraint, sound judgement, adherence to the rule of law and established rules of engagement.

The NDLEA chairman thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to strengthen the agency’s operational capacity and also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for providing the initial consignment of firearms and ammunition that enabled the training to commence.

He said the introduction of tactical weapons represented another milestone in the agency’s transformation into a more professional and formidable force against drug traffickers.

“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,” Marwa said.