Operatives of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reportedly gunned down two teenagers at Iloje, Okpuje Community, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State on December 4, 2023.
According to an eyewitness account, the operatives had invaded the area and shot indiscriminately in search of cannabis farmers. “Our community is under siege and heavy attack by the NDLEA officials who collect money from cannabis farmers only to turn around to come and kill our people each time the farmers refuse to remit their monies to them.
“They unleashed hell on the community for hours. It was in the process that those boys were killed.”
Meanwhile
NDLEA, reacting to the incident, claims that three of their operatives were injured.
According to their spokesman, Femi Babafemi, “Following credible intelligence that the drug cartels had again stocked their warehouses in the forest to start distribution of the psychoactive substance to various parts of the country ahead of the yuletide season, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilized to enter the Edo forests and block the distribution of the illicit drug by destroying their warehouses.
“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000 kg of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba Forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.
“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000 kg of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba Forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.
“Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack, with one of them shot in the head, while some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets. The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while the critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday, December 6th, to remove the bullets in his brain.”
