Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) faced a barrage of bullets from armed hoodlums in Opuje community, Owan West local government area of Edo State.
The armed group, reportedly hired by drug barons, blocked all access roads to prevent NDLEA officers from reaching forest warehouses storing tons of processed psychoactive substances.
This attack occurred nearly 11 months after a similar incident where armed youths ambushed NDLEA officers attempting to destroy massive cannabis warehouses in the same community. At that time, several suspects were arrested in connection with the drugs.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, stated, “This attack is coming barely 11 months after armed youths recruited by drug barons ambushed NDLEA officers who stormed the community to destroy massive warehouses and tents storing over 317,417 kilograms (317.4 metric tons) of cannabis sativa on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
He revealed that “at least three suspects: Omoruan Theophilus, 37; Aigberuan Jacob, 42; Ekeinde Anthony Zaza, 53; and Naomi Patience Ohiewere, 42, were arrested in connection with the drugs then.”
“The Opuje community is notorious for cannabis cultivation, where the cartels invest huge resources, cutting down economic trees of the forest reserves and cultivating cannabis on a large scale, running into hundreds of hectares.
“After harvest, they build warehouses inside the forest reserves and employ the services of armed youths to protect the warehouses 24/7.
“Following credible intelligence that the drug cartels had again stocked their warehouses in the forest to start distribution of the psychoactive substance to various parts of the country ahead of the yuletide season, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilized to enter the Edo forests and block the distribution of the illicit drug by destroying their warehouses.
“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000 kg of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.
“The NDLEA teams, however, came under gunfire attack in the early hours of Monday, December 4, when they approached the Opuje forest after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community.
“The NDLEA operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gunfight with the armed hoodlums.
Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack, with one of them shot in the head, while some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets.
“The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while the critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday, December 6th, to remove the bullets in his brain.”
In response to the attack, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), condemned the attack, vowing to bring those behind it to justice.
He emphasized that the incident would not deter the agency from its ongoing offensive action against drug barons and cartels, describing them as “merchants of death” jeopardizing the lives of innocent citizens, especially the youth, across the country.