Irate Youths Injure Four NDLEA Officials In Bayelsa During Search For Drug Peddlers

Bayelsa State experienced unease following reports that four officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were injured in the Oruma community within the Ogbia Local Government Area.

The officials were said to be in search of drug peddlers in the community.

The NDLEA operatives were said to have stormed the border community with Rivers State with the intention to arrest some drug peddlers when they were attacked by irate youths.

According to the spokesperson of the state command of the NDLEA, Mr. Daniel Obah, who confirmed this in Yenagoa on Thursday, he said four of its men who were critically injured are still in the hospital receiving treatments.

According to him, men of the command went for a routine operation to arrest some drug peddlers.

It was stated that the personnel affected by the incident were critically injured, while they are said to be at the hospital receiving treatment while the affected personnel are still in the hospital.

Three others were also said to be with minor injuries while they have already been discharged.

The vehicles of the NDLEA were also vandalized.

The Youth President of Oruma community, Inebika-emi, said the youths in the community only requested to know why the accused was arrested without any form of notice from the community leaders.

He said four of their youths were critically injured and arrested, while the law enforcement body took them to Yenagoa for treatment in a hospital, without allowing their relatives to visit them.

He explained that Oruma community had over the years condemned drug dealers and that there was law in the community not allowing anyone to smoke not to talk of hard drugs describing the act as unprofessional and barbaric.

Mr. Inebika-emi called on the state commander NDLEA and the Bayelsa State government to intervene, saying that they would not want to take laws into their hands because Oruma represents peace.