NDLEA Issues Bayelsa Community Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Stolen Pistol.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has given a seven-day ultimatum to the Oduma community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to return a pistol allegedly stolen from its operatives. The directive follows a violent clash between NDLEA agents and local youths on Wednesday, during which at least four NDLEA personnel were injured.
NDLEA Public Relations Officer, Daniel Obah, stated that the confrontation occurred when operatives were attempting to arrest drug peddlers. The community’s youths reportedly assaulted the officers, vandalized their operational vehicle, and seized the weapon. The damaged vehicle and the altercation have intensified tensions between the NDLEA and the community.
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Obah explained that the operatives had been on a routine operation targeting drug dealers when they were attacked. Four NDLEA officers sustained serious injuries and are hospitalized, while three others with minor injuries have been discharged. The operational vehicle was extensively damaged during the incident.
Joshua Inebika-emi, the Youth President of Oduma, claimed that the youths’ actions stemmed from a lack of prior notification about the arrests.
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He reported that four local youths were detained and taken to Yenagoa for medical treatment without allowing family visits. Inebika-emi emphasized that the community opposes drug trafficking and adheres to laws prohibiting drug sales, calling for intervention by the NDLEA and the Bayelsa State Government.
In response, the NDLEA condemned these claims as false and malicious. The agency detailed that the youths had obstructed the NDLEA’s exit from the community, forcibly removed the seized items, and attacked the officers. The statement noted that the NDLEA’s backup team eventually deterred the assailants, preventing further violence.
NDLEA State Commander Kanu Chukwuemeka has demanded that the community return the stolen pistol, the detained suspects, and the recovered items within seven days. Failure to comply will result in legal action. The NDLEA also urged public support in combating drug abuse and addiction, emphasizing the ongoing struggle against drug-related crime in the region.
