The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced investigation of a shooting incident involving its officers during the raid of a drug joint at Okpanam Area of Asaba, Delta State.
The anti-narcotics agency stated this in a statement today by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi,
It stated that “unfortunately a young person was hit by a stray bullet as a result of which he eventually died while undergoing treatment in the hospital.”
A photo is viral on the social media of a two-year-old boy who was said to have died after he was hit by a stray bullet during the raid in Asaba by some NDLEA operatives on Thursday.
The anti-narcotics agency stated that its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has received an initial briefings from the Delta State Command of NDLEA on the shooting incident.
Subsequent upon receiving the briefings, Marwa 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.
This, Babafemi stated in the statement, was with a view to establishing the actual facts of the case.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy further stated that the step taken by the NDLEA boss followed an initial report of the incident which, he said, revealed the following:
“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, 13 July.
“In the process of the operation, a Toyota Camry 2008 model, light blue colour, at the scene suddenly zoomed off.
“The car knocked down one of our officers who is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.
“In a bid demobilise 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.
“[The officers] followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating his treatment but unfortunately died in the process.
“We are in touch with the family to provide necessary assistance, while we conclude our investigation of the incident.
“We will like to assure the family and members of the public that we will get to the root of the case and take necessary action(s).”
