Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, came under fire with attacks that left seven of them maimed and vehicles damaged during the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Taraba State. It took a reinforcement of security agencies in the state to rescue the operatives from the scene of attack.
The drug kingpin, Micha Godwin was trailed to Nukai market, along Jalingo-Wukari road in the Taraba state capital, Jalingo.
Despite the attack, the officers however managed to arrest their target after recovering some quantities of illicit drugs from the suspect and thereafter retreated to take the wounded to the hospital for treatment.
Following intelligence, the operatives on Tuesday 8th March stormed the market at about 2.30pm to arrest the drug dealer and evacuate illicit substances in his warehouse. Soon after the arrest of Micha, miscreants mobilised from the community to attack the officers and vehicles with dangerous weapons.
In custody, the drug dealer said “what happened today is bad because this is the second time I have been arrested and brought here but the first arrest was not like this. I don’t know who invited the boys who attacked the NDLEA officers”
Reacting to the incident, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa condemned the attack and directed immediate switch to new operational guidelines that will make officers and men well positioned to defend themselves adequately in the course of carrying out their duties.
The Agency Spokesman, Femi Babafemi said Gen.Marwa warned that henceforth any obstruction or attack on NDLEA operatives in line of duty by suspects or their supporters would receive commensurate response.
Action Now Against Drug Abuse 