NDLEA Speaks As Officer Kills Two-Year-Old Child, Injures Sibling In Delta State

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced investigations following the death of a  2-year-old Onose who was hit in his lower abdomen by a stray bullet alleged to have been shot by its officers on duty in Asaba.

This took place during a raid on a notorious drug joint in the Okpanam area.

The deceased child, Ivan Omhonria, and his younger sibling, Eromonsele, were hit by stray bullets shortly after returning from school to their mother’s shop.

Sources stated that Ivan was struck in the abdomen and his sibling suffered an eye injury.

The children were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba, but Ivan did not survive.

The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi on Saturday 15th July said the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd)  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, he said, follows the 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 action(s)”.