The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has announced that it has begun investigating a shooting incident during a raid on a drug joint at Okpanam in Asaba, Delta State.
This information was contained in a statement by the director, media and advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Saturday, July 15 in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, a stray bullet from the weapon of an NDLEA officer had reportedly hit a young boy who had eventually died while undergoing treatment in a hospital.
NDLEA chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, has already set up an investigation panel comprising of top officials from the national headquarters, after news on the incident had filtered into the incident from the Delta command.
Babafemi had remarked that the chairman had ordered the investigators to proceed to Asaba to organise the actual facts of the case.
Meanwhile, the drug agency has been in touch with the family of the deceased child.
According to reports, a team of NDLEA operatives had carried out an intelligence-based raid at the joint of a notorious drug dealer who resided at Okpanam in Asaba at about 4 pm on Thursday, July 13.
During the operation, a light blue Toyota Camry 2008 model had suddenly zoomed off and knocked down an officer, who is presently in critical condition and is undergoing treatment in a hospital.
“While the injured officer was rushed for treatment, the officers got reports of a stray bullet hitting a young child and had immediately located the father of the victim, followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating the boy’s treatment but unfortunately he had died in the process.” Babafemi had said.
“We’ve been in touch with the family to provide needed support while tidy up the investigation of the incident. We would also like to reassure the family and members of the public that we will get to the bottom of this case.”
The life of a young child has prematurely ended on account of being at the wrong place at the wrong time in Nigeria. We hope justice is served for the young boy.
