NDLEA Inducts AK-47 Rifles, Pistols to Strengthen Fight Against Armed Drug Cartels

June 29 () — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced the formal induction of AK-47 rifles and advanced pistols into its operational framework, marking a significant shift in its strategy to confront increasingly armed and violent drug trafficking syndicates across Nigeria.

The development was announced on Monday by the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, during the inauguration of a specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling for AK-47 Type 56-1 rifles and HS-9/CF98A pistols at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.

Marwa, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu, described the initiative as a historic milestone in the agency’s 36-year history, saying it reflects the changing realities of the country’s anti-narcotics campaign.

According to a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the introduction of tactical weapons had become necessary because drug trafficking organisations have evolved into heavily armed and organised criminal networks.

“The nature of the war we fight has evolved. Drug trafficking organisations are no longer mere commercial cr,iminal enterprises; they are armed, organised and ruthless.

“Our officers increasingly face dangers in the field, and it would be unfair 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,” Marwa said.

The NDLEA boss attributed the agency’s enhanced operational capacity to the support of President Bola Tinubu, whom he commended for prioritising the strengthening of the NDLEA.

He also praised the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for facilitating the delivery of an initial consignment of firearms and ammunition, enabling the training programme to commence without delay.

Providing updates on the arms procurement process, the NDLEA chairman disclosed that the acquisition, initiated in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), had reached its final stage.

He revealed that thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition are expected to arrive in the country soon, adding that an accountability framework and distribution plan have already been approved to ensure proper deployment across the agency’s commands.

According to him, the NDLEA is also collaborating with the Nigerian Air Force to facilitate the strategic airlift of the weapons and ammunition to operational formations nationwide.

Marwa explained that the ongoing course is designed to produce pioneer master trainers who will subsequently conduct a compulsory one-month weapons handling programme for all NDLEA personnel before the firearms are deployed for operational use.

“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, with you, in this academy, on this day,” he said.

Marwa urged the trainees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, stressing that discipline, safety, ethical conduct, and strict adherence to the rules of engagement must guide the use of firearms.

He warned that the agency would not tolerate negligence in the handling of arms and ammunition, insisting that every officer must appreciate the enormous responsibility associated with carrying weapons.

“Our mandate is to protect lives, not to endanger them,” he said, adding that instructors must lead by example and maintain the highest level of integrity while training their colleagues.

The NDLEA chairman said the agency had undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, becoming a more professional and formidable force against drug trafficking organisations.

He noted that the agency had recorded unprecedented drug seizures, dismantled several criminal networks, and successfully prosecuted traffickers who once considered themselves beyond the reach of the law.

“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 added.