The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday defended its operatives who shot two persons dead during a raid in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State.
Reacting to the incident which occurred Wednesday night, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, claimed that their operatives came under attack when it raided Mushin to arrest drug barons behind shipments of drugs from Ghana.
According to the spokesperson, the operatives were left with no other option than self-defense.
He revealed that the suspected drug barons, identified as Saheed Solola and Suleiman Shehu were arrested with drug shipments and vehicles.
“Our men on Wednesday night went to Mushin to arrest the baron behind shipments of drugs that have been coming from Ghana.
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“After the arrest of some of the wanted suspects and recovery of drugs and their vehicles, our men came under attack from their boys, who had locked all the exit gates in the community, and our officers had to defend themselves to come out of the area alive”, he said.
However, a resident of the community who gave his name simply as Olasunkanmi, lamented over the development and questioned the operatives for shooting sporadically in a residential area.
Olasunkanmi said, “We are not saying the NDLEA should not do their job, but why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? The NDLEA operatives invaded a drug den in the community around 10pm and started seizing illicit drugs which is OK.
“The operatives were about 50 in number and most of them were armed. While some wore the official uniform, others were dressed in casual wear. The people dealing in the drug business were enraged by the raid and started threatening to make trouble.
“But the NDLEA operatives started shooting to have their way and stray bullets hit two young boys in the head and chest. Both of them died on the spot. The name of one of the victims is Gafar Yusuf. After killing them, the NDLEA operatives attempted to take their corpses away but people in the area resisted.”