Following a violent altercation between Nigeria Police Force officers and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday, there was mayhem at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa.
PUNCH Metro said that NDLEA agents had come to the region to apprehend a woman who was thought to be a drug dealer.
They had registered their presence in the police station’s records before carrying out their operation.
But according to reports, Ekeki Division police officers stepped in during the arrest, blocking the NDLEA agents and turning the encounter into a furious brawl.
Locals became alarmed as an eyewitness claimed to have heard gunfire during the altercation.
“I was at the Bayelsa Newspaper Corporation when I heard about six gunshots. Out of curiosity, I went to the Ekeki Police Division and saw a confrontation between the police and NDLEA operatives,” the eyewitness recounted.
Police officers are accused of firing at two NDLEA vehicles during the resulting confusion in order to stop the agents from apprehending the suspect.
Additionally, the witness implied that the episode sparked concerns about potential police participation in protecting the drug suspect.
“People are now suspecting that the police might be providing cover for the woman to continue her drug business in the area,” he said.
Mr. Howells Oba, an NDLEA spokesperson, responded to the event by confirming that the agents had officially registered their operation at the police station before moving on. In response to the firing, Oba said,
“They shot two of our vehicles, and we are working on removing them from the scene.”
In the process of resolving the dispute and reestablishing order, he added, the agency would make a formal statement.
Mr. Musa Mohammed, the Police Public Relations Officer, said he was en route to the scene to look into the matter.
“I am heading there now to find out what happened,” he said.
