Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were brutally attacked by armed hoodlums in Opuje community, located in the Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The hoodlums had blocked all roads leading to the community, aiming to hinder the NDLEA operatives’ access to forest warehouses. These warehouses reportedly contained a significant quantity of processed psychoactive substances, intended for nationwide distribution in preparation for the upcoming Christmas and New Year season.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, issued a statement confirming the incident. He mentioned that three officers were injured during the attack, with one of them sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Additionally, some of the vehicles used in the operation were riddled with bullets.
Babafemi further stated that the injured officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The critically injured officer underwent a major surgery on Wednesday, December 6, to remove the bullets lodged in their brain.
This incident occurred just 11 months after armed youths, recruited by drug barons, ambushed NDLEA officers during a previous operation in the community. At that time, the officers had seized and destroyed warehouses and tents containing over 317,417 kilograms (317.4 metric tons) of cannabis sativa on January 18, 2023.
The NDLEA remains committed to combating drug-related crimes and ensuring the safety of communities across the nation. Investigations into the recent attack are underway, and efforts to support the affected officers continue.
