August 30, (THEWILL) – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has condemned and described as false and malicious claims by the Oruma community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA, Bayelsa State Command, SN Daniel Howells Obah, and made available to journalists in Yenagoa.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bayelsa State Command, has been drawn to not only false and malicious but also misleading and very unfortunate statement now trending in the media platforms credited to the Youth President of Oruma community, one Joshua Inebika-emi over the attack on NDLEA officers by suspects drug dealers, cultists and indigenes of Oruma community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“It is quite unfortunate and embarrassing that someone who is supposed to be an advocate of a crime-free society and a custodian of social values could be drawn into the antics of drug dealers and criminals who are always opposed to peace, law and order.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is an elite security agency that is not only ethical but very professional in its operations based on the Rules of Engagement guiding paramilitary operations in all situations, including this. It is foolhardy to believe that NDLEA officers will just storm a community and start shooting sporadically.
“What Mr. Youth President failed to tell the public is that, on Wednesday, 28th August, 2024, suspected drug dealers and criminals taking refuge in his community in their numbers attacked NDLEA officers after the officers had successfully arrested a suspected drug dealer and his sales boy, and were trying to leave. The irate indigenes of Oruma community blocked the bridge to the community, overpowered the advance team of officers, collected a pistol, freed the two suspects and seized the exhibits recovered and equally vandalised the Restoration Taxi with Reg. No: BYS 060 TR given to the command by Bayelsa State Government. They shot and stabbed the NDLEA officers. It was when they sighted the NDLEA backup tactical team that they started running away and that saved what could have been more fatal.
“State Commander wishes to reiterate here that the NDLEA is not at war with any individual or community and can not send out its officers to men to cause chaos or pandemonium in any area. He, therefore, calls on all well-meaning individuals in the society to join hands with the NDLEA in their efforts aimed at stopping the scourge of drug abuse/addiction in our communities and cities, and equally bringing the merchants of death and criminality (the drug dealers) to book.
“The State Commander, NDLEA, Bayelsa State, Kanu S. Chukwuemeka, CN is using this opportunity to call on the Paramount ruler and entire leadership of the community to produce within seven days the Pistol they collected from the officers, the two male suspects arrested and the exhibits recovered from them or be ready to contend with the law.
“The Command equally wish to place it on record that Sokoh ‘m’ who also sustained injuries and rushed to the same hospital where the NDLEA officers are being treated, is also being well attended to, but he’s placed under arrest as well as his co assailants Daniel Sokoh ‘m’ and Samson Sokoh ‘m’.”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
