Police and NDLEA clash in Bayelsa over attempt to arrest suspected female drug dealer

Operatives of the Nigeria Police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to arrest a suspected female drug peddler in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at the Ekeki Police Division on Thursday, January 23, 2025. 

According to Punch, some NDLEA operatives stormed the area were in the area to arrest the woman and had even made an entry in the police records before carrying out their assignment.

However, just as they were going about their operation, the policemen from the Ekeki Police Division obstructed the NDLEA operatives and it resulted in an altercation.

In the resulting confrontation, several shots were fired which caused 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,” an eyewitness told the publication. 

It was gathered that two operating vehicles of the NDLEA were shot in the process by the police to prevent the agency from taking the suspect away.

The eyewitness further stated that it was as if the police were allegedly providing cover for the drug suspect to carry out her drug business in the vicinity of 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 added. 

The NDLEA spokesman, Mr Howells Oba, confirmed the incident. 

“Our men went for an operation behind the Ekeki Police Division. Our man made an entry at the police station,” he said. 

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

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Musa Mohammed, said he was hurrying to the scene to find out what happened.

“I am going there now to find out what happened,” the PPRO said.