Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), had revealed that operatives of the agency will begin to wear masks during raid operations.
Marwa said the directive was to address security concerns and conceal identity of officers from drug barons and addicts who unleash mayhem on them.
The former military administrator of Lagos State, revealed that the safety of the agency’s personnel is non-negotiable.
In recent times, the anti-narcotic agency had lost some of its operatives to organized attacks by drug barons across the country.
He recalled the incident of one Paul Anwana, who was executed inside his room in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on April 18, 2022.
Also, some unknown miscreants attacked the office of the agency on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway in Ebonyi State on February 20, 2022, leaving one officer dead as the other received a gunshot in one of his in legs.
Read This: NDLEA destroys hard drugs worth N2b in Kwara
The gunmen took away the agency’s rifle and razed a patrol van.
Marwa said, “We have devised a means to protect our men from the drug barons and addicts. After operations, these drug barons go after our men to attack them for doing their lawful duties. We have to protect them and their households. That is why they are going to be wearing masks during operations.
“They will cover their faces very well so that it will be difficult for the drug barons to identify them. These young men and women are really working hard for the country and we should not expose them to danger. These drug barons have their tentacles everywhere and are ready to do anything illegal but within their reach to protect their illicit trade. We won’t allow that to happen.”
He noted that NDLEA had introduced better working condition to motivate officers and men for efficient performance.
