Juliana Francis
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Asaba, Delta State, have been accused of shooting two siblings, ages two and one, leading to the death of one, and the other currently battling to stay alive.
Angry Nigerians are still grappling with the shock of how operatives opened fire in an area inhabited by people, causing stray bullets to hit the two siblings who were in a shop with their mother.
The two years old, Onose was said to have died, while his younger brother, one and half years old is fighting for his life in a hospital.
Many have described the shooter as trigger happy operative.
A Facebook post by Marvin Mordi states thus: “Yesterday was a very sad day for the family of Mr Osko Fidelis who happens to be the father of little Onose that was shot by an NDLEA personnel that was on illegal duty at the axis of Okpanam road by Swiss spirit hotel.
“It was gathered that the operative of NDLEA came on an illegal operation to arrest some persons suspected to be selling some hard drugs when one of the operatives tried to stop a car that was in motion after those they came to arrest fled. Unprofessionally, the NDLEA personnel was pointing a gun toward the driver of the car he was trying to stop but the driver was in motion and couldn’t stop and then the NDLEA officer fired his gun.
“The gunshot hit little Onose that was in his mother’s shop after he and his younger brother were picked up from school by their father. It was gathered that little Onose was right inside his mother’s shop with his siblings eating when the stray bullet hit him in the abdomen and also struck his younger brother in his left eye.
“Onose and his younger brother were rushed to FMC by his mother and some Good Samaritans, unfortunately, Onose couldn’t make it because the bullet hit him badly, while the younger brother was operated upon and in stable condition.
“According to Mr Fidelis when he confronted the NDLEA personnel at the spot where the bullet hit his sons he alleged that instead of the personnel’s being remorseful of what they did they intended to shoot him also, they jump into their van and fled the scene.
“Onose was supposed to be among those graduating from preschool and his graduation gown was picked up by his father same yesterday.”
The Director, of Media, and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, reacting to the incident on Saturday, said that the Agency was investigating the shooting incident involving officers in Delta.
The Agency in a statement on Saturday 15th July said the Chairman of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has after receiving initial briefings from the Delta state command of NDLEA, 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 follows an initial incident report, which reveals the following:
“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 are currently in critical condition, undergoing treatment in a hospital.
“In a bid to 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 actions.”
