The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have announced the apprehension of a female “drug kingpin” and confiscation of over 5,000kg of illicit substances, during a sting raid in Lagos. ayokinews.com reports
NDLEA made this known in a statement released through its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Saturday.
Operatives of the anti-drug agency, were however, accused of shooting indiscriminately during a firefight with suspects.
Several persons were believed to have been injured, as well as several fatalities, during the raid, which took place in the Patey neighborhood of Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesman, acknowledged that there were casualties during the raid “because our operatives were attacked,” as reported by TheCable.
The NDLEA claimed in a statement released following the raid that its agents apprehended a total of seven people.
The statement reads: “A major drug kingpin operating in the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, in Lagos state, Mrs. Sherifat Kehinde Lawal, has been arrested along with six other suspects by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also recovered 5,862 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including Loud and Codeine in a raid on Saturday 26th February 2022.”
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“Following credible intelligence and follow-up surveillance on illicit drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices at 9:30am Saturday 26th Feb.”
“Other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.”
“The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves, took the suspects and exhibits away.”
“Other suspects in custody with Mrs. Lawal include: Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat, and Chukwudi Egon.”
Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, praised the agency’s officers in Lagos, for the “successful operation” and “warned those being exploited by drug cartels to disrupt or assault anti-narcotic officials in the course of their duties to desist or face serious repercussions,” according to Babafemi.
