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Chaos erupted at the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday as a violent clash broke out between the Nigeria Police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
PUNCH Metro learned that some NDLEA operatives were in the area to apprehend a woman suspected of being a drug peddler. They had also made an entry in the police records before proceeding with their operation.
However, as the NDLEA operatives carried out their operation, policemen from the Ekeki Police Division blocked their efforts, leading to a confrontation.
An eyewitness told PUNCH on Thursday that the confrontation led to several shots being fired, triggering panic among residents in the area.
“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 said.
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It was revealed that during the incident, the police fired at two NDLEA vehicles in an attempt to prevent the agency from taking the suspect.
The eyewitness further suggested that it appeared the police were allegedly shielding the drug suspect, allowing her to continue her drug activities near the police division.
“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.”
On the shooting, Oba said, “They shot two of our vehicles and we are trying to see how we can take them out.”
According to him, the agency plans to release a formal statement regarding the situation but emphasized that they were working to resolve the matter and restore order.
When reached for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, stated that he was rushing to the scene to investigate the incident.
“I am going there now to find out what happened,” Mohammed stated.
