The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has given explanations on why its operatives stormed the Petty area of Lagos Island.
On Saturday, February 26, 2022, videos emerged online depicting the NDLEA agents in what looked like a confrontation with some residents of the area.
Soon afterwards, rumours began to swirl around that the agency had gone to the Lagos Island to cause mayhem.
In swift reaction, the NDLEA in a short message on its official Twitter account explained that the operatives went to the Petty area with the intention to arrest a female drug kingpin.
The agency, however, didn’t reveal any details about the suspect but said she was arrested alongside five others with almost 6,000kg of drugs.
“A lot of fake narratives have been going on on what happened at Petty area of Lagos Island earlier today. Please disregard them.
“Truth is our operatives went for the arrest of a major drug kingpin and we got her and 5 others with almost 6,000kg of drugs despite attacks on our me,” tweeted NDLEA.
As seen in the clips online, pandemonium ensued in the area when the NDLEA operatives arrived. The affected areas are Patey, Dumare, Tapa, Freeman and its environs.
A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi revealed that ‘following credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on illicit drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices at 9:30 am Saturday, February 26.
Other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.
The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves, took the suspects and exhibits away.
Other suspects in custody with Mrs Lawal include Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat, and Chukwudi Egon.
In one of the videos seen, the sound of bullets rented the air as some hoodlums engaged the operatives in a face-off.
It was gathered that some casualties were recorded from the shooting.
In his reaction to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) commended the officers and men of the Lagos Command of the Agency for the successful operation. He warned those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work to desist or face dire consequences.
Barely 24 hours ago, the agency had declared that the identity cards carried by its operatives also serve as arrest warrants.
Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known during a Space session held on the agency’s official Twitter account on Friday, February 25, 2022.
It came days after the agency came in for heavy criticism over the conduct of its operatives during search and arrest operations.
The NDLEA is an agency established by Decree Number 48 of 1989.
The agency is a Federal Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Justice in Nigeria with is core purposes of illicit drug business and trafficking in the country.
The NDLEA is present in international airports, seaports, and border crossings. It also targets the leaders of narcotics and money laundering organizations.
