Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), the head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has announced that from now on, agency personnel will wear masks when conducting operations.

He claimed that this was done to conceal their identities from drug lords and junkies, who occasionally recognized some of them and went looking for them following operations.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Marwa stated that the organization remained dedicated to the security of its employees.

Some officials of the agency have been killed by gunmen in different parts of the country.

Among them was Paul Anwana, who was killed at his residence in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on April 18, 2022. Also, gunmen stormed the office of the agency on the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway in Ebonyi State on February 20, 2022, killing an officer.

They also shot one in the leg, made away with a rifle and burnt 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 said the agency had introduced multi-pronged incentives including cash-backed awards for Best Performing Commands and commendations to motivate officers and men.