NDLEA Probes Delta Shooting Incident Involving Officers

•Oborevwori condemns killing of 2-year-old

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it was investigating a shooting incident involving its officers during the raid of a drug joint at Okpanam area of Asaba, Delta State capital, where unfortunately a young person was hit by a stray bullet as a result of which he eventually died while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

This is as Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has said the killing of a two-year-old boy by a “stray bullet” during an operation by the agency was avoidable if the officers had operated based on their rules of engagement.

The agency in a statement yesterday signed by its Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has, after receiving initial briefings from the Delta State command, set up a panel of top officials from the national headquarters in Abuja to immediately proceed to Asaba for an on-the-spot investigation of the unfortunate incident with a view to establishing the actual facts of the case.

This followed initial incident report which revealed that, “A team of NDLEA operatives carried out an intelligence-based raid of the joint of a notorious drug dealer located at Okpanam area of Asaba at about 1600 hours on Thursday 13th July and in the process of the operation, a Toyota Camry 2008 model, light blue colour at the scene suddenly zoomed off and knocked down one of our officers who is currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.

“In a bid demobilize the car and prevent it from escaping, another officer fired a shot aimed at the tyre of the car, which eventually escaped.

While the injured Officer was rushed for treatment, the officers got reports of a stray bullet hitting a young person and immediately located the father of the victim, followed him to the hospital and supported in facilitating his treatment but unfortunately died in the process.

“We’re in touch with the family to provide necessary assistance while we conclude our investigation of the incident. We will like to assure the family and members of the public that we’ll get to the root of the case and take necessary action(s).”

Meanwhile Delta State Governor, Oborevwori, has said the killing of a two-year-old boy by a “stray bullet” during an operation by NDLEA was avoidable if the officers had operated based on their rules of engagement.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor in his heart-felt condolences to the family of Ivan Omorhiakogbe, said the tragic incident at Okpanam area of the state capital was regrettable.

He called on the NDLEA authorities and the Delta police command to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the boy and injury to his brother, with a view to bringing the culprits to book and avoiding a future occurrence.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the family of Fidelis Omorhiakogbe on the tragic death of their two-year-old son, Ivan, and injury to his younger sibling, Eromonsele.

“This incident is tragic, painful, and grievous because of the loss of a child and injury to his younger sibling. I condemn this unfortunate incident because no matter the provocation, armed security men must operate within the ambits of standard procedure as enshrined in their rules of engagement.

 “Any action taken outside these international best practices could be catastrophic as in this case.

“I therefore call on the NDLEA and Police authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident and bring all the culprits to book.

Meanwhile, the state police commissioner of police, CP Wale Abass, has ordered an investigation into the killing.

According to the command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, the CP has directed the matter to be transferred to the police headquarters while all the parties are to report at the police headquarters on Monday.

“The command is aware of the incident that occurred on Thursday. Investigation into the matter has already began following the directive of the commissioner of police for the matter to be transferred to the State Criminal lnvestigation Department (CID), Edafe confirmed.