NDLEA officials killed in reprisal attacks

Two officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were on Wednesday killed by irate youths at Loko Village, in Song Local government area of Adamawa. 

An eye witness however said four dead bodies were counted after the riots.

The youths were protesting the killing of two members of their community by men of the anti-drug law enforcement agency.

A detachment of armed anti-riot police men have been drafted to the community to restore normalcy following a breakdown of law and order in the community Wednesday.

It was gathered that men of the NDLEA operatives had stormed the village on Wednesday morning at about 11 a.m. in pursuit of the two men suspected to be dealers in cannabis, also known as Indian hemp.

 The killing of the young men in an attempt to arrest them reportedly sparked protests from  residents who latched on to two personnel of the NDLEA in the violence that ensued, instantly killing them in a reprisal attack.

 The attacks were spurred by the feelings of resident that the deceased killed by men of the drug law enforcement agency were cassava farmers and not helm dealers as alleged.

The spokesperson of the Adamawa police command, Nemuel Yoila, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the incident, said the force was alerted in the morning about a protest in Loko, following the clash between NDLEA personnel and some youths in the community.

He said the prompt response by the police in dispatching its men to the community accounted for why the casualty figure was minimal.

Heavily armed security personnel have been drafted to the community to restore peace and to maintain law and order, said Mr. Yoila, who declined comments about casualty figures.

“We are awaiting report from the DPO of Song, that is why I cannot confirm the casualty figure right away,” he said.

Some community leaders who were still lamenting their dead when Premiujm Times visited decried what they called, “extra judicial killings by armed personnel”, stressing that government should checkmate the activities of armed servicemen to forestall future occurrence.

 “We are fed up with the kind of intimidation we are facing daily from these NDLEA people, they always come here to extort money from our people, if you don’t give, they charge you with peddling hard drugs,” Sani Musa, a road side trader, said.

Efforts by Premium Times to reach the NDLEA command in the state were unsuccessful as officers at the gate barred reporters from entering.