Update: NDLEA arrests female drug kingpin, others on Lagos Island (see video)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLE, has released an official statement on the drug raid it undertook on the Lagos Island on Saturday.
Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, said said one Sherifat Lawal, a drug dealer and six others were arrested.
The statement reads: “A major drug kingpin operating the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, in Lagos state, Mrs. Sherifat Kehinde Lawal has been arrested along with six other suspects by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who also recovered 5,862 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs including Loud and Codeine in a raid on Saturday 26th February 2022.
“Following credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on illicit drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices at 9:30am Saturday 26th Feb.
“Other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.
“The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves, took the suspects and exhibits away. Other suspects in custody with Mrs. Lawal include: Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat, and Chukwudi Egon.”
The NDLEA also quoted its chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) as warning “those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work”. Marwa said if they would “face dire consequences”, if they don’t desist.
Our Earlier Story below …
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it raided Patey area of Lagos Island and arrested its target, a female drug kingpin.
Videos of the pandemonium that broke out during the raid have been circulating the social media, especially Twitter.
Some Twitter users have tweeted that, at least, three people died during the raid.
In one of the videos seen by TheCornet, a man with a gunshot injury was being carried on a wheelbarrow, while another corpse could be seen on the ground.
Yet, another video shows young men running for cover while at the same time trying to give the operatives a chase. Sound of multiple gunfire could be heard from the background of the video.
The agency clarified that it went to the area to arrest ‘a major drug kingpin’. NDLEA also posted video of the three women and four men arrested at Patey and the drugs recovered.
The agency debunked what it called “fake narratives” going round the social media.
“A lot of fake narratives have been going on on what happened at Patey area of Lagos Island earlier today (Saturday)” the NDLEA tweeted.
“Truth is our operatives went for the arrest of a major drug kingpin and we got her and five others with almost 6,000 kg of drugs despite attacks on our men.”
See video below …
