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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has condemned and described claims by Oruma Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Baylesa State as “false and malicious.”
This was contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA command in Baylesa State, SN Daniel Howells Obah, and made available to journalists in Yenagoa.
The statement in part reads, “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 suspected 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 crimes who are always opposed to peace, law and order.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is an elite security agency which is not only ethical, but very professional in their operations based on the Rules of Engagement guiding paramilitary operations in all situation, including this. It is foolhardy to believe that, NDLEA officers will just storm a community and starting 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 vandalize 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 back up Tactical team that they started running away and that saved what could have been more fatal.
“State Commander wishes to reteirate here that the NDLEA is not at war with any individual or community and can not send out its officers and men to cause chaos or pandemonium in any area. He therefore calls on all well meaning individuals in the society to join 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 recoverd from them or be ready to contend with the law.
“The Command equally wishes 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”.
