Miscreants, on Tuesday attacked officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at Odunze Lane, Mile 3 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
One suspect, Izuu Isuofia was set free by the hoodlums during the attack.
According to a source, the NDLEA operatives had arrested a suspected drug dealer and were leading him towards patrol vehicle parked along Ikwerre Road Iheoma Street when some suspected irate secret cult members descended on the NDLEA officials.
The gruesome attack left some of the NDLEA officials with injuries of varying degrees.
“The NDLEA men fired some shots into the air, but the cult boys were still stoning and they eventually aided the escape of the suspect before the NDLEA patrol van arrived at the scene,” he said.
The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Rivers State Command, Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, who confirmed the incident, noted the cultists escaped with the drugs seized alongside the suspect.
The statement titled “Mob attack on operatives of NDLEA Rivers State Command” however said the state commander had ordered the re-arrest of the fugitive and his gang members.
The statement read, “In the evening of Friday, April 14, 2023, operatives of the NDLEA, Rivers State Command, raided a hangout/drinking joint around Odunze Street, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt and a suspected drug dealer named Izuu Isuofia popularly called ‘50’ was apprehended with a large quantity of cannabis sativa.
“While trying to move the suspect to the patrol van, he raised the alarm and was resisting arrest which resulted in a scuffle, and within minutes, hoodlums in their large numbers attacked our officers with bottles and stones, and managed to free the already handcuffed suspect as well as carting away his exhibit before the arrival of our back-up team.
“The State Commander, Ahmed Mamuda, has tasked operatives of the command to deploy all necessary arsenals to ensure that the suspect and his cohorts are arrested and brought to justice.”
