We are investigating shooting incident involving our officers in Delta – NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that it is investigating a shooting incident that led to the death of a young person in Asaba, Delta State .

According to the Agency, the individual was hit by a stray bullet while NDLEA officers were carrying out raid action at a drug joint in the Okpanam area of the state. He eventually died while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media & Advocacy in the Agency’s headquarters in a statement said the NDLEA Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa has after receiving initial briefings from the Delta state command of NDLEA, set up a panel of top officials from the national headquarters in Abuja to immediately proceed to Asaba for an on the spot investigation of the unfortunate incident with a view to establishing the actual facts of the case.

This follows initial incident report, which reveals the following; “A team of NDLEA operatives carried out an intelligence-based raid of the joint of a notorious drug dealer located at Okpanam area of Asaba at about 1600 hours on Thursday 13th July and in the process of the operation, a Toyota Camry 2008 model, light blue colour at the scene suddenly zoomed off and knocked down one of our officers who is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.

“In a bid demobilize the car and prevent it from escaping, another officer fired a shot aimed at the tyre of the car, which eventually escaped. While the injured Officer was rushed for treatment, the officers got reports of a stray bullet hitting a young person and immediately located the father of the victim, followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating his treatment but unfortunately died in the process.

“We’re in touch with the family to provide necessary assistance while we conclude our investigation of the incident. We will like to assure the family and members of the public that we’ll get to the root of the case and take necessary action(s).”