Four persons
were feared dead, Saturday night, at the notorious drug haven of Akala in
Mushin area of Lagos, when armed hoodlums attacked a combined team of National
Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, and some soldiers during a raid.
It was gathered that
the NDLEA operatives and some soldiers, stormed Akala, a notorious
hideout for criminals in Lagos and attempted to arrest some drug barons,
peddlers and users, operating in the area. But they met stiff resistance from
some hoodlums who attacked them with bottles and other dangerous weapons.
Eyewitness
disclosed that some of the hoodlums, who were also armed with guns
fired at the NDLEA officials and the soldiers, prompting a retaliation.
According to
reports, four persons were reportedly gunned down in the ensuing
shootout, while some NDLEA officials sustained severe injuries.
The NDLEA, in a
statement, said four other hoodlums were arrested by its operatives, while
cannabis weighing 541.9kg and 32 pinches of substance that tested positive for
heroine were recovered.
The
statement signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, did not
disclose the number of persons killed in the encounter, but said: “A combined
team of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA and army officers at the
weekend met with stiff resistance from hoodlums at the notorious Akala, Mushin
area of Lagos during a drug raid operation.
The team of
officers led by NDLEA Assistant Commander, Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Ojo
Ogbechema, recovered cannabis weighing 541.9kg and 32 pinches of substance that
tested positive for heroin. Four suspects were also arrested.
According to the
NDLEA Lagos Commander, Mr Sule Aliyu, the operation was successful in spite of
the resistance from drug barons.
Sule said: “A
combined team of NDLEA and army officers participated in the operation. It was
a very successful raid because bags of cannabis weighing 541.9kg and 32 pinches
of heroin were recovered.
“During the
operation, there was an attack on the officers by a large number of hoodlums
who threw bottles and stones at the officers. The road was also barricaded but
the officers shot into the air to disperse the crowd.”
The commander
added that two officers who sustained injury had been treated.
Meanwhile,
residents of Idi‑Oro area of Mushin have called on the state government to
eradicate the trade in illicit drugs from Akala and its environ if
it wants lasting peace in the area.
The residents
also described the activities of drug dealers and users in Akala as a
major strength behind bloody clashes in Mushin. They added that Akala is the
only area in Lagos State where illicit drugs are sold openly.