Two Die As NDLEA, Soldiers Raid Akala

No fewer than two youths were allegedly killed, while seven others sustained gunshot wounds on Saturday after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Army raided Akala Street, Odi-Olowo, Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos.

It was learnt that the security agents, acting on a tip-off, had stormed the area which is notorious for drug peddling.

A resident, Rahman Ogunsanya, told our correspondent that most of the youths were watching a football match when the incident occurred.

He said, “Around 6pm on Saturday, we were watching the match between Chelsea Football Club and Newcastle FC at a viewing centre on Akala Street when some NDLEA officials and army men attached to OP MESA, stormed the area.

“The NDLEA were led by one Abdulrazaq, while the OP MESA guys were from Abalti Barracks. The soldiers were in a patrol vehicle, marked  029031.

“They started shooting indiscriminately. One of my friends, Taiye, was shot in the stomach and the bullet came out through his back. His twin brother, Kehinde, was also shot, but survived. Another youth, Akin Dada, was also killed on the spot, while about six others were shot but were later rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that after the shooting, the security agents arrested some suspects.

Our correspondent learnt that policemen attached to the Alakara Police Division and Area D Command later visited the area to calm frayed nerves.

However, the NDLEA said nobody died in the the operation, adding that the residents’ accounts were meant to blackmail the agency.

NDLEA’s Head of Public affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, in a statement on Sunday, said the agency and the soldiers were able to seize about 541.9 kilogramme of cannabis and 32 pinches of substances that tested positive for heroin.

Ofoyeju, who explained that the team was led by NDLEA Assistant Commander, Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Ojo Ogbechema, said four suspects were arrested in the operation.

The NDLEA spokesman said, “The Lagos Commander, NDLEA, Mr. Sule Aliyu, said the team was attacked by a large number of hoodlums during the operation. He said the hoodlums threw bottles and stones at the officers. The road was also barricaded, but the officers shot into the air to disperse the crowd. Two officers, who sustained injuries in the process, have been treated.”