Tension in Bayelsa as police, NDLEA clash
There was chaos at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa on Thursday following a violent clash between officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to PUNCH Metro, NDLEA operatives had visited the area to arrest a woman suspected of being a drug dealer. Before proceeding with their operation, they had documented their presence in the police station’s records.
However, while carrying out the arrest, policemen from the Ekeki Division reportedly intervened, obstructing the NDLEA operatives and escalating the situation into a heated altercation.
An eyewitness reported hearing gunfire during the confrontation, which caused panic among local residents. “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.
In the ensuing chaos, police officers allegedly fired at two NDLEA vehicles to prevent the operatives from taking the suspect into custody.
The eyewitness also suggested that the incident raised suspicions about the police’s possible involvement in shielding 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.
Reacting to the incident, NDLEA spokesperson Mr. Howells Oba confirmed that the operatives had formally recorded their operation at the police station before proceeding. Addressing the gunfire, Oba stated, “They shot two of our vehicles, and we are working on removing them from the scene.” He added that the agency would issue a formal statement on the matter while working to resolve the conflict and restore order.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, stated he was on his way to the scene to investigate the incident. “I am heading there now to find out what happened,” he said.
