Hoodlums attack NDLEA officers, injure three, in Edo forest
Three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were injured by armed hoodlums at Opuje community, Owan West Local Council of Edo State during an attack.
Subsequent to the incident, one of the officers involved had to undergo brain surgery.
The anti-narcotic officials reportedly fend off a hail of bullets from the hoodlums who had tried to prevent them from accessing warehouses where tons of psychoactive substances were stored.
The substances were said to have been warehoused preparatory to nationwide distribution ahead of Christmas and New Year festivities.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, who confirmed the development, said the attack came barely 11 months after armed youths recruited by drug barons ambushed NDLEA officers.
In that particular incident, which happened on Wednesday, January 28, 2023, the officers had stormed a community to destroy warehouses and tents containing over 317,417 kilogrammes (317.4 metric tons) of cannabis sativa.
It led to the arrest of three suspects: Omoruan Theophilus, 37; Aigberuan Jacob, 42; Ekeinde Anthony Zaza, 53, and Naomi Patience Ohiewere, 42.
According to Babafemi, the Opuje community is notorious for cannabis cultivation, with a cartel investing huge resources; cutting down economic trees at the forest reserve and cultivating cannabis on hundreds of hectares.
After harvest, the cartel, he said, builds warehouses and employs the services of armed youths to protect the facilities.
“Following credible intelligence that the drug cartel had again stocked its warehouses in the forest, to start distribution of psychoactive substances to various parts of the country, ahead of Yuletide, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilised to enter the Edo forest, block the distribution, and destroy the warehouses.
“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West Local Council, last weekend.
“The NDLEA teams, however, came under gunfire attack in the early hours of Monday, December 4, when they approached the Opuje forest, after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community.
“The operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gun fighting with the hoodlums.
“Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack. One of them was shot in the head. Some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets.
“The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment while a critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday, December 6, to remove the bullet in his brain,” Babafemi said.
In his reaction, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, warned that persons sponsoring attacks on operatives would know no rest until they are all brought to justice, and their criminal trade is terminated.
Marwa commended the professional conduct of the officers involved in the operation, adding that the incident will not deter the agency from its ongoing offensive against drug barons and merchants of death bent on destroying the lives of innocent citizens, especially the youths.
In the meantime, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described as unwarranted, despicable, reprehensible and distasteful, the violent attack in Edo State targeted at NDLEA operatives.
It also called on Nigerians to stand in solidarity with NDLEA in its determination to rid the nation of hard drugs and illicit substances.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of the group, in a statement, called on Nigerians to rally round NDLEA and key into its comprehensive and result-oriented war on drugs.
It also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing a support base and enabling environment for NDLEA to scale up counter-narcotic battles all over Nigeria.
