The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has graduated 143 personnel who undergone training on basic counter terrorism packages at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in Jaji, Kaduna.
Addressing the graduands, Chairman of the NDLEA, Retired Brig.-Gen. Muhammad Marwa, said the personnel were trained at the NASI in order to acquaint them with the rudiments of combating drugs in every terrain all over the country.
According to him, the course which is the first of its kind would be a valuable addition to the NDLEA in specialized warfare operations.
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“The training is aimed at preparing agents of the NDLEA towards handling more complex challenges that characterized the contemporary drug world.
“My plan is for the personnel to grow into a formidable force that can operate in forests, swaps, cities and everywhere in the country.
“We have lost so much personnel, in the last 15 years, we have lost 188 officers in the line of duty, the training here will ensure we face the challenge.
“We will arm and equip them and provide them with all the necessities of work, we will try to be two steps ahead of drug barrons and peddlers”, he said.
He warned that drug traffickers and barron must desist from their illegal activities, quit the trend now and engage in other legitimate means of livelihood, and if they don’t, they will sure get them.
“The strike force personnel we just trained here is just a tip of the spear, they are readily prepared to be deployed to forests where hemps are cultivated, the cities, work places swaps, dry lands and every where”.
He urged the graduands to exhibit high sense of discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Marwa thanked the Chief of Army Staff for their partnership, and for approving training of NDLEA personnels at NASI.
Earlier, the Commandant of NASI, Maj-Gen Maude Gadzama, said the two weeks course was packaged with intensive training in weapons handling and counter terrorism operations.
The Commandant expressed that the relevance of the course in the current global trends cannot be over emphasized due to the activities of drug barons which had contributed and increased the threats to global peace and security to which Nigeria is not immune.
Gadzama assured that the training had exposed the NDLEA personnel to the basic tenets, techniques and requisite skills of dealing with special operations.
“Acts of terrorism and insurgency as well as the challenges presented by political unrest and a growing trend of criminal elements are all attributed to the activities of drug peddlers.
“The need to secure the populace and national resources has therefore, spurred the NDLEA to invest in specialized training in order to effectively deal with these challenges”.
He congratulated the graduands and urged them not to rest on their oars, but continue to strive harder in their future endeavors.
It was reported that the personnel undergone training on weapon handling, VIP protection, venue security, counter terrorism, ambush drills, rappelling, house clearing, cordon and search and other special operations.
