Suspected drug peddlers kill NDLEA officer in Ondo

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Tragedy struck in Ondo, headquarters of Owo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday, July 22, as an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), identified as Jide, was killed by suspected drug peddlers.

Daily Sun gathered that the late NDLEA officer was attached to the Ondo State command of the agency before he met his untimely death.

It was learnt that the deceased was killed during a raid by the NDLEA on an apartment in the Ita’nla area of Ondo.

A source hinted that the incident happened when a team of NDLEA officers came under attack orchestrated by some suspected drug peddlers when they stormed the building to recover drugs stored inside the ceiling of the apartment.

The source said, “I guess the team got a tip that some drugs were stored inside the residential building at Ita’nla in Ondo. So, the officials came very early to burst the building.

“Immediately they came in, some of them entered into the building to recover the exhibits while Officer Jide stood outside mounting the guard. Suspected gunmen came from nowhere and opened fire on him and he was shot in the neck.

“The officer was immediately rushed to the hospital, but the doctors on duty confirmed him dead on arrival. It is a very sad development,” he added.

The spokesman for the Ondo State command of the NDLEA, Adebayo Solomon, could not be reached for comment.

But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident.

He revealed that four suspects have already been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that a single-barrelled gun has been recovered.