Cannabis traffickers shoot at NDLEA officials, agency seizes drug, truck

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were shot at on Awolowo Road, in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who spoke with The PUNCH, stated that the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday, after the operatives attempted to intercept a truck loaded cannabis.

Babafemi said, “It happened around 1 am this morning (Tuesday). Suspected fake security agents who accompanied the truck of cannabis opened fire on the NDLEA operatives.

“They (the armed men) shot them (NDLEA officials) and damaged their vehicles. In the confrontation, we made sure we got the truck and the drugs.”

The NDLEA spokesman revealed that the intervention of the military men situated at the Military Hospital in the area aided the recovery of the trucks and drugs.

Babafemi said, “The gunshot attracted the military men who supported the NDLEA team. That was the point the suspected fake security agents escaped with other suspects. But we were able to recover the trucks and the drugs.

“I am still getting details of the incident as it unfolds; it is still a matter under investigation.”

Decrying the rates of attack on NDLEA operatives, Babafemi added, “This is not the first time. The same thing happened in November. It’s very unfortunate.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of Lagos Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the incident was not reported to the police.

“It was not reported to the police,” Hundeyin wrote in a text message to our correspondent.