The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has warned the Oduma neighborhood in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to return a stolen pistol belonging to the company inside seven days or face authorized penalties.
This was disclosed in an announcement by the company’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Obah.
No fewer than 4 NDLEA operatives have been injured after being assaulted by some offended youths from the neighborhood on Wednesday.
The operatives have been making an attempt to arrest drug peddlers, and the operational automobile of the state’s NDLEA command was additionally vandalised by the youths, who’re suspected to be accomplices of the drug peddlers.
On Thursday, Obah mentioned that the command’s males “went for a routine operation to arrest some drug peddlers when some youths attacked them, resulting in four personnel being critically injured.”
He added that the injured personnel have been nonetheless in hospital receiving therapy, whereas three different operatives with minor accidents had been discharged.
Obah defined that “the youths of the community tried to resist the arrest, which led to the clash and vandalism of the operational vehicle.”
The neighborhood’s Youth President, Joshua Inebika-emi, mentioned the youths solely wished to grasp why the accused have been arrested with out notifying the neighborhood leaders.
He reported that 4 youths have been injured and detained whereas the operatives took them to Yenagoa for therapy in a hospital, with out permitting their relations to go to them.
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Inebika-emi defined that the neighborhood “has, over the years, condemned drug dealers, and there is a law prohibiting the dealing in hard drugs, which is considered unprofessional and barbaric.”
He known as on the NDLEA state commander and the Bayelsa State Government to intervene, stating that they didn’t need to take the legislation into their very own arms as a result of Oduma represents peace.
However, in its response on Friday, the anti-narcotics company condemned and described as false and malicious the claims made by the youth chief.
The assertion learn partially, “What the Youth President didn’t disclose is that, on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, suspected drug sellers and criminals taking refuge in his neighborhood attacked NDLEA officers after the officers had efficiently arrested a suspected drug supplier and his gross sales assistant, and have been making an attempt to depart.
“The irate indigenes of the Oduma neighborhood blocked the bridge to the neighborhood, overpowered the advance crew of officers, seized a pistol, freed the 2 suspects, took the recovered displays, and vandalised the restoration taxi with registration quantity BYS 060 TR, which was offered to the command by the Bayelsa State Government.
“They shot and stabbed the NDLEA officers. It was only when they sighted the NDLEA backup tactical team that they began to flee, which prevented further fatalities.”
The assertion additional added, “The State Commander of the NDLEA, Bayelsa State, Kanu Chukwuemeka, is using this opportunity to call on the paramount ruler and the entire leadership of the community to produce, within seven days, the pistol taken from the officers, the two male suspects arrested, and the recovered exhibits, or be prepared to face legal action.”
The NDLEA famous that these beneath arrest, Daniel Sokoh and Samson Sokoh, have been receiving therapy in the identical hospital the place its officers are being handled.
It known as on all well-meaning people in society to affix efforts to fight drug abuse and habit.