JOS — Anti-narcotics agents in Nigeria are to be armed with high-powered assault rifles and advanced pistols for the first time in the agency’s 36-year history, following a sharp rise in violence from heavily armed drug cartels.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday officially commenced the induction of AK-47 rifles and semi-automatic pistols into its frontline operations.
The historic shift was unveiled by the head of the agency, retired Brigadier-General Mohamed Marwa, at a specialized training academy in the central city of Jos, Plateau State. Officials say the deployment marks a critical milestone driven by the increasingly lethal nature of West Africa’s illicit drug trade.
‘Ruthless and armed’
“The nature of the war we fight has evolved.” Gen. Marwa said in a statement read by his chief of staff, Colonel Murtala Aminu. “Drug trafficking organisations are no longer mere commercial criminal enterprises; they are armed, organised, and ruthless.”
He added that it would be “unconscionable” to continue sending agents into harm’s way without the necessary firepower to protect themselves and the public.
The initial consignment of weapons and ammunition was supplied via the Office of the National Security Adviser to fast-track training. However, the agency revealed that a major, multi-year procurement deal initiated in 2023 with the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) is now in its final stages.
Thousands of additional firearms are due for imminent delivery, with the Nigerian Air Force contracted to strategically airlift the weaponry to regional commands across the country.
Fears over proliferation
The arming of another federal agency comes amid ongoing concerns from civil society groups regarding the proliferation of small arms and the potential for accidental discharges or heavy-handedness by security forces in public spaces.
Anticipating these concerns, the NDLEA boss stressed that strict ethical guardrails and a zero-tolerance policy for negligence would be enforced.
The current cohort of officers in Jos is being trained as “master instructors”. They will return to their respective states to lead mandatory, month-long weapon handling and rules-of-engagement courses for all personnel before any firearms are deployed onto Nigerian streets.
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