NDLEA kill two in Lagos, families demand justice

Concerns have been raised over the recent sporadic shootings in a residential area by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, which reportedly resulted in the killing of two people.

The families of the victims, though devastated by the sad incident which occured in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State are now asking that the men of the NDLEA who were involved in the killing of their relatives be brought to book.

22-year-old Gafaru Yusuf reportedly died on the spot after a stray bullet originating from the NDLEA men caught him in the head.

Yusuf was on his way to buy food at a location in the community when a stray bullet killed him, according to his elder sister who spoke to newsmen.

His family has since been thrown into mourning.

The second victim, Emmanuel Olomowewe also died immediately a stray bullet caught him in the chest, according to an eye witness report.

Sources have said that “the NDLEA operatives stormed the community around 9.40pm on Wednesday to raid a drug den when they started shooting indiscriminately to scare hoodlums attempting to scuttle their plan in the community.”

In the course of the shooting, stray bullets hit and killed the victims whose families are now demanding justice.

For Yusuf, his elder sister, Muhibah who spoke to newsmen said, “My brother usually assists my father at his workplace in Lagos. But yesterday (Wednesday), he did not go to work. From what I was told, he was on his way to buy food around 9.40pm when we got the information that he got hit by a bullet fired by the NDLEA operatives. We want justice.”

However, his mother is said to have been left in a pool of tears following the demise of her son whose life has been cut short. When newsmen attempted to speak with her, she tearfully said, “I cannot say anything. Let me give it (the phone) to another person that will talk to you.”

A resident in the area, Olasunkanmi is worried about the devastating effects of the incident. He wonders why the operatives would shoot indiscriminately in a residential area while noting that members of the community are enraged by the incident.

“We are not saying the NDLEA should not do their job, but why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? The NDLEA operatives invaded a drug den in the community around 10pm and started seizing illicit drugs which is in order.

“The operatives were about 50 and most of them were armed. While some wore the agency’s uniform, some of them dressed in casual wear. The people dealing in the drug business were enraged by the raid and started threatening to make trouble.

“But the NDLEA operatives started shooting to have their way and stray bullets hit two young boys in the head and chest. Both of them died on the spot.”

For Lukmon, the operatives of the NDLEA should clearly map out strategies on how to carryout their duties effectively without putting the lives of innocent people at risk.

“We are tired of the NDLEA’s issue in our neighbourhood. Why will they be shooting carelessly in a residential neighbourhood? If they want to work, it is expected that they would have a target and they should have a plan for how they will arrest the target instead of shooting carelessly to the point of killing two innocent persons,” he said.

“It is uncalled for; they suddenly stormed the area with guns and started shooting. Gafar Yusuf, 22, was killed on Imoru Street. We are already making arrangements to bury his corpse. We heard three people were killed during the raid but what I can confirm to you for now is the death of two persons,” Lukmon added.

Reacting, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi when contacted, explained that the NDLEA men were in the area to arrest a drug baron when the incident happened.

He explained that in the course of the operation, some suspects were arrested and illicit drugs recovered.

“Our men on Wednesday night went to Mushin to arrest the baron behind shipments of drugs that have been coming from Ghana.

“After the arrest of some of the wanted suspects and recovery of drugs and their vehicles, our men came under attack from their boys who had locked all the exit gates in the community and our officers had to defend themselves to come out of the area alive.”