Bayelsa Showdown: Police Dispute NDLEA’s Arrest of Alleged Female Drug Trafficker
On January 23, 2025, a confrontation occurred between operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and officers from the Ekeki Police Division in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The incident took place when NDLEA agents attempted to arrest a woman suspected of drug peddling. Prior to the operation, the NDLEA operatives had duly recorded their mission in the police station’s logbook, adhering to standard protocol.
\As the NDLEA team proceeded with the arrest, officers from the Ekeki Police Division intervened, leading to a heated altercation. Eyewitnesses reported that during the confrontation, several gunshots were fired, causing panic among local residents. Notably, two NDLEA operational vehicles had their tires shot and deflated, allegedly by police officers aiming to prevent the NDLEA from taking the suspect into custody.
The incident has raised concerns among community members, with some speculating that the police may have been providing protection to the suspect, allowing her to conduct drug-related activities in the vicinity of the police division.
In response to the clash, NDLEA spokesperson Howells Obah stated that the agency’s operatives followed all standard operational procedures during the raid. He emphasized that the NDLEA is taking steps to retrieve their vehicles and is working to de-escalate tensions resulting from the incident.