Chaos erupted at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa on Thursday when a confrontation broke out between officers of the Nigeria Police Force and operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Eyewitnesses noted that the incident stemmed from an operation by the NDLEA to apprehend a woman suspected of dealing in illegal drugs.
According to PUNCH, the NDLEA operatives had registered their mission in the station’s records before proceeding with the arrest. However, the operation took a dramatic turn when policemen from the same division intervened, reportedly obstructing the NDLEA team.
The situation quickly escalated into a heated confrontation, with several gunshots fired, causing panic in the surrounding area. One eyewitness, who was near the Bayelsa Newspaper Corporation at the time, recounted, “I heard about six shots and went to check what was happening. When I got to the Ekeki Police Division, I saw a clash between the police and NDLEA operatives.”
It was reported that in the midst of the altercation, two NDLEA operational vehicles were shot by the police, allegedly in an attempt to stop the agency from taking the suspect away. This sparked suspicions among locals, who began questioning whether the police were shielding the alleged drug dealer.
“The incident has made people suspect that the police are allegedly providing some kind of support for the woman to do drug business in the area,” the eyewitness added.
When reached for comments, NDLEA spokesman Mr. Howells Oba confirmed the altercation. “Our men went for an operation behind the Ekeki Police Division. Our man made an entry at the police station,” he said.
Addressing the gunshots, Oba noted, “They shot two of our vehicles, and we are trying to see how we can take them out.” He added that the agency would release an official statement soon and was working to resolve the matter peacefully.
