Chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), has inaugurated a historic weapon handling training programme for the agency’s officers at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, 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.
Speaking during the inauguration of the specialised Train-the-Trainer Course on Weapon Handling for AK-47 Rifle Type 56-1 and HS-9/CF98A pistols on Monday, Marwa described the development as a significant milestone necessitated by the increasingly violent tactics of drug trafficking syndicates.
Marwa, who was represented by his chief of staff, Col. Murtala Aminu, said the evolving nature of the anti-drug campaign required officers to be adequately equipped and trained to protect themselves and the public.
“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 them into harm’s way without the tools and training to protect themselves and the public they serve,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman stressed that the programme was not merely about introducing firearms but about preserving lives and strengthening the agency’s operational effectiveness.
According to Marwa, the arms procurement process, which began in 2023 through the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), has reached its final stage, with thousands of rifles, pistols and ammunition expected to arrive soon.
He disclosed that a comprehensive accountability framework has already been approved for the distribution of the weapons, while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will assist in transporting them to NDLEA commands across the country.
Marwa explained that the ongoing training was designed to produce pioneer master trainers who will return to their various commands to conduct a compulsory one-month firearms training programme for all personnel before the weapons are deployed operationally.
He urged the participants to uphold discipline, safety and professionalism, emphasising that weapon handling carries enormous responsibility and warned that negligence in handling firearms would not be tolerated, reminding the officers that operational proficiency must be guided by ethical conduct, restraint and strict adherence to the rule of law and rules of engagement.
