One person was reportedly killed, Wednesday evening, at the Okaka suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State when some irate youths attacked a team of anti narcotic officials during a raid to arrest peddlers and drug dealers in the area.
The team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, allegedly shot indiscriminately during the mob attack when a bullet hit a bricklayer said to be coming back from work.
It was learned that the NDLEA officials moved in to arrest a notorious dealer operating in the area but they met stiff resistance from some hoodlums who attacked them with bottles and other weapons.
A resident, who simply gave her name as Martha, said at about 7pm, they saw officials of NDLEA march pass their homes, and moved straight to a particular point where boys always gather. The next thing we saw people running and we also scampered for safety and later heard someone died.
But the NDLEA, on Thursday, in a statement issued by the NDLEA State Command, Public Relations Officer, DSN Daniel Howells Obah, noted that they were on special assignment to arrest a notorious female drug dealer but were attacked by cult groups that threw bottles, stones and improvised explosive devices leading to exchange of gun shots.
The statement reads “Yesterday 20th March 2024 at about 1900hrs officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bayelsa State Command, upon proper surveillance carried out and pre-purchase of cannabis sativa and crack cocaine made on the 15th of March, 2024 from a notorious female drug dealer that goes by the name Rebecca at Yenizue-Epie”
“In the course of trying to effect her arrest, the officers were attacked by cult groups and youths of that community, seized drug exhibits recovered and freed the said Rebecca.
“They were throwing bottles, stones and improvised explosive devices leading to exchange of gun shots.
“However the NDLEA officers were able to arrest one Abraham Aderin ‘m’ 14yrs who sparked the mob leaving the scene with several injuries to the office.
“The same cult groups and youths again in their numbers proceeded to attack the State Command HQs throwing bottles and improvised explosive devices, and vandalising vehicles in the office, and dumping a lifeless body of young man in front of the office.
“The situation was however, brought under control with the Swift response from the Nigeria Police and joint patrol teams of Operation Doo-Akpo.
“The State Commander of the NDLEA Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, CN while expressing sadness over the ugly incidence, condemns it in strong terms why the youths who are supposed to be the advocates of peaceful societies and hope of the future will take laws into their hands by aiding and abetting the commission of drug crimes, the bane of our insecurity problems, and obstructing the arrest of a suspect.
The State Commander also thanked the swiftness and gallantry of the Police in rising to the occasion, and the leadership of the IYC central zone who were all on ground to help bring the situation under control.
“Meanwhile, the lifeless body later identified as one Moses Akada has been deposited at the Federal Medical Center Yenagoa pending investigation into the real cause of his death.
Finally, the State Commander, commiserate with the family of the deceased and ask for calmness, that the matter is being looked into.”
