Kamil Opeyemi
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday said its investigating an alleged killing by its operatives while carrying out a raid in Asaba Delta state on Friday.NPO Reported a video which had gone viral where a man pursued operatives of the anti-drug agency in their patrol vehicle after a stray bullet had hit the victims.
In a statement by Femi Babafemi, Head of Media and Advocacy the agency is already investigating the matter.
The statement said the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has after receiving initial briefings from the Delta state command of NDLEA, set up a panel of top officials from the national headquarters in Abuja to immediately proceed to Asaba for an on-the-spot investigation of the unfortunate incident with a view to establishing the actual facts of the case.
The agency said its initial incident report reveals that a team of NDLEA operatives carried out an intelligence-based raid of the joint of a notorious drug dealer located at Okpanam area of Asaba at about 1600 hours on Thursday 13th July and in the process of the operation, a Toyota Camry 2008 model, light blue colour at the scene suddenly zoomed off and knocked down one of our officers who is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.
Going further, the statement added,
“In a bid demobilize the car and prevent it from escaping, another officer fired a shot aimed at the tyre of the car, which eventually escaped. While the injured Officer was rushed for treatment, the officers got reports of a stray bullet hitting a young person and immediately located the father of the victim, followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating his treatment but unfortunately died in the process.”
It said the agency is in touch with the family to provide necessary assistance while it we concludes investigation of the incident.
“We will like to assure the family and members of the public that we’ll get to the root of the case and take necessary action(s).”