The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives has allegedly shot two people dead in Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State.
The NDLEA apparently stormed the streets at around 10 pm for a search to raid a drug chain but started shooting in order to scare off the hoodlums, Punch reported.
However, in a bid to achieve their aims and apprehend people abusing drugs, stray bullets that were fired by the operative killed two persons including a young man, Gafar Yusuf.
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Olasunkanmi, a resident of the community, frustrating queried why the operatives were firing bullets in a residential area.
He revealed that 2 victims died as a result of their aimless shots, as he shared that Gafar was one of the victims who died when the bullet hit his head and the other victim who is yet to be identified at the time of this report took a bullet to his chest.
Why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? – Resident
Olasunkunmi continued by asserting that the residents in the community were angered at this and added that no one was stopping the NDLEA operatives from doing their job, however, they should have done it with caution.
He shared that after the death of the young man the NDLEA attempted to take their corpse but the residents of the community refused.
“We are not saying the NDLEA should not do their job, but why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? The NDLEA operatives invaded a drug den in the community around 10 pm and started seizing illicit drugs which is OK.
“The operatives were about 50 in number and most of them were armed. While some wore the official uniform, others were dressed in casual wear. The people dealing in the drug business were enraged by the raid and started threatening to make trouble.
“But the NDLEA operatives started shooting to have their way and stray bullets hit two young boys in the head and chest. Both of them died on the spot. The name of one of the victims is Gafar Yusuf. After killing them, the NDLEA operatives attempted to take their corpses away but people in the area resisted,” Olasunkunmi said in a chat with Punch.
Another resident who resides in the community, Lukmon explained that he got the news from Yusuf’s mother.
“We are tired of the NDLEA’s issue in our neighborhood. Why will they be shooting carelessly in a residential neighborhood? If they want to work, it is expected that they would have a target and they should have a plan for how they will arrest the target instead of shooting carelessly to the point of killing two innocent persons.
“It is uncalled for; they suddenly stormed the area with guns and started shooting. Gafar Yusuf, 22, was killed on Imoru Street. We are already making arrangements to bury his corpse. We heard three people were killed during the raid but what I can confirm to you for now is the death of two persons.
“Yusuf’s mother called me yesterday that a bullet had hit him and that he was running errands when he got struck down by the bullets fired by the NDLEA operatives,” he said.
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NDLEA issues nationwide restrictions on sale, use of ‘laughing gas’
Meanwhile, NDLEA issued a public cry out about the negative use and sales of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas that people use to get ‘high’.
In a strong effect to curb this public menace, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) has issued a strong warning about the effects of this drug and directed all force to arrest anyone illegally selling or using it.
This is coming after the Punch reported that there has been a rise in the abuse of nitrous oxide and the medical experts stated that the laughing gas can cause brain damage and nerve damage.
