Civilians Run For Safety As Police, NDLEA Clash

Many people within the premises of the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa were forced into a run for safety yesterday following a violent police-National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) confrontation.

The NDLEA operatives, it was gathered, had come to the area to effect arrest of a woman suspected to be involved in drug peddling, a move that was however resisted by police.

It was not immediately clear why the police opposed the operation despite that the NDLEA had already made an entry relating to the case.

Many people were however alerted to the commotion and it was civilians run for safety when gun shots began to ring in the air.

“As I was at the Bayelsa Newspaper Corporation, I heard some shots, about six shots, and I decided to find out. As I got to the Ekeki Police Division, I saw a confrontation between the police and NDLEA operatives,” the eyewitness told Punch

There were indications that the NDLEA operatives succeeded in apprehending the suspect but they were reportedly stopped from taking her away by police shots at the vehicle.

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“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,” he said.

When contacted, the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Howells Oba, said, “Our men went for an operation behind the Ekeki Police Division. Our man made an entry at the police station.”

“They shot two of our vehicles and we are trying to see how we can take them out.”

According to him, the agency will make a formal statement on the situation but noted that they were trying to resolve the issue and restore peace.

The Eagle reports recalls a report of last August indicating that  residents at Oruma, Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA) had disarmed NDLEA officials, seized a pistol loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition, freed two arrested suspects and making away with exhibits

A statement credited to the Youth President of Oruma community, Mr Joshua Inebika-Emi, on the attack on NDLEA claimed the NDLEA had invaded the area and caused panic by shooting indiscriminately.