Three officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were injured during a gunfire attack in a forest in Edo State.
The incident occurred when the officials attempted to access warehouses in the Opuje community, Owan West Local Government Area, where it said large quantities of processed psychoactive substances were being stored for distribution ahead of the Christmas and New Year season.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, armed hoodlums had blocked all roads leading to the forest to prevent the anti-narcotic operatives from reaching their target.
“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.
“During the early hours of Monday, December 4th, the NDLEA teams encountered a gunfire attack as they approached the Opuje forest. The armed hoodlums engaged in a gunfight with the operatives, forcing the officers to fight back for over two hours before successfully exiting the area”, he said.
Babafemi added that the injured officials were immediately rushed to the hospital, and one underwent a critical surgery on December 6th to remove the bullets from his brain.
Following the incident, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba to CT Marwa (retd) strongly warned against those sponsoring attacks on agency operatives.
He said, “Those sponsoring attacks on our officers will know no rest until they are all brought before the law to face the consequences of their action, and their criminal trade terminated.”
Marwa comnended “the professionalism” displayed by the officers involved in the operation and assured that the attack would not deter the agency from its continuing offensives against drug barons and cartels.
