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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
Nigerian youths have been urged to desist from drug abuse due to its harmful and negative impact on their lives and society.
Bayelsa State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Kanu Sunny Chuckwemeka, gave this advice while speaking to journalists on the incident that occured on March 20, 2024.
According to Mr Kanu, upon proper surveillance, the command carried out pre-purchase of cannabis sativa and crack cocaine on March 15, 2024 from a notorious female drug dealer that goes by the name Rebecca, at Yenizue-Epie in Yenagoa.
He said in the course of trying to effect her arrest, officers were attacked by cult groups and youths of the community, who seized recovered drug exhibits and freed the said Rebecca.
“They were throwing bottles, stones and improvised explosive devices, leading to exchange of gun shots.”
However, the NDLEA officers were able to arrest one Abraham Aderin, male, 14 years, the state commander said, adding that the cult groups and youths in their numbers further proceeded to attack the state headquarters, “throwing bottles and improvised explosive devices, as well as vandalizing vehicles in the office. They later dumped the lifeless body of a young man in front of the office.”
He disclosed that the situation had been brought under control through the swift response from the Nigerian Police and the joint patrol of Operation Doo- Akpo
The NDLEA commander, Kanu Sunny Chuckwemeka, expressed sadness over the ugly incidence, wondering why youths, “who are supposed to be advocates of peaceful societies and hope of the future, will take laws into their hands by aiding and abetting the commission of drug-related crimes, the bane of our security problems, and obstructing the arrest of a suspect.”
The state commander also thanked the swiftness and gallantry of the police in rising to the occasion, and the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone, who were all on ground to help bring the situation under control, as the lifeless body, later identified as one Moses Akada, had been deposited at the Federal Medical center Yenagoa pending investigation into the real cause of death.
On when the police detachment will leave the area, he said they will leave once normalcy returns.
He later conducted journalists round the vandalized vehicles and explosive devices, piles of broken bottles and officers that sustained injuries, who were traumatized and could not grant journalists interview.
Meanwhile, the people of Yenizue- Epie Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area said the incident led to an uproar among the youths of Yenizue-Epie and neighbouring communities, but temporary peace had been restored through the intervention of security agencies.
Speaking to journalists later, the Youth president of Yenizue-Epie Community, Comrade Martins Okoko Obiriwonsi, who gave an eye witness account of the incident, sued for peace and justice over the alleged killing of Moses Akada.
