The Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the leadership of Oruma community in Ogbia Local Government Area to produce a pistol loaded with 15 rounds of live ammunition.
The weapon was reportedly seized by some youths who attacked NDLEA operatives during an operation to apprehend suspected drug dealers in the community.
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The incident occurred on Wednesday when the operatives were ambushed after arresting two suspected drug dealers. Four officers were critically injured, the suspects were released, and the agency’s operational vehicles were damaged.
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In a statement on Thursday, NDLEA spokesman SN Daniel Howells Obah said that the agency’s commander in Bayelsa, Mr. Kanu S. Chukwuemeka, had given the community a seven-day deadline to return the weapon.
He said: “The irate indigenes of Oruma community blocked the bridge to the community, overpowered the advance team of officers, collected a pistol loaded with rounds of 9mm live ammunition, freed the two suspects and seized the exhibits recovered and equally vandalized the Restoration Taxi with Reg. No: BYS 060 TR, given to the command by the 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.
“The state commander wishes to reteirrate 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 society to join hands with the NDLEA in to stop the scourge of drug abuse/addiction in our communities and cities, and equally bring the merchants of death and criminality (the drug dealers) to book.
“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is an elite security agency who 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 starting shooting sporadically.
“The State Commander NDLEA Bayelsa State, Kanu S. Chukwuemeka, CN, is using this opportunity to call on the paramount ruler and the entire leadership of the community to produce within seven days the pistol loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm live ammunition 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 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 alongside his co-assailants Daniel Sokoh and Samson Sokoh.”
