In a bid to arrest peddlers and drug dealers in Okaka area, Bayelsa, Yenagoa, the state capital city, one person identified as Moses Akada was killed when armed youths attacked a team of anti narcotic officials.
Our correspondent gathered that, the team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, reportedly shot indiscriminately during the mob attack which resulted to bullet hit to a bricklayer who said to be coming back from work during the ugly incidence.
A source from the area who pleaded anonymous told the newsmen, that the NDLEA officials came to arrest a notorious dealer operating in that area, but they met stiff resistance from some hoodlums who attacked them with bottles and other weapons.
Another resident, who gave her name as Martha Ovie, said, they saw the NDLEA officials passed from their area around 7pm, straight to a particular point where boys always gather. The next thing we saw was people running and we had no choice than to also run for our dear lives too, next thing we heard later was that someone died in the process.
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.
“On 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 from a notorious female drug dealer, named 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”, he stated.
“However the NDLEA officers were able to arrest one Abraham Aderin, 14 years boy who sparked the mob leaving the scene with several injuries to the office. The same cult groups and youths proceeded to attack the State Command HQs throwing bottles and improvised explosive devices, vandalising vehicles in the office, and dumping a lifeless body of young man in front of the office . However, the situation was brought under control with the Swift response from the Nigeria Police and joint patrol teams of Operation Doo-Akpo”, he disclosed.
The State Commander of the NDLEA, Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, expressed 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.
He 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 of the young man killed has been deposited at the Federal Medical center Yenagoa pending investigation into the real cause of his death.
The State Commander, commiserate with the family of the deceased and asked them to be calm, that the matter is being looked into for effective result.
