Breaking: NDLEA raid in Lagos turns deadly, leaving two people dead

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agents carried out a drug raid in the Mushin neighbourhood of Idioro, Lagos State, on Wednesday night, killing two people.

Gafar Yusuf and another person, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, reportedly died after being struck by stray bullets fired by NDLEA agents who were operating randomly in the area.

To raid a drug den, NDLEA agents stormed the neighbourhood around 10 p.m., but some residents involved in the drug trade resisted them.

The two victims were struck by stray bullets fired by the NDLEA agents as they began shooting to scatter the crowd.

When the victims arrived at the nearby hospital after being rushed there, they were already dead, this publication learned.

Residents of the area are outraged and angry about the incident and have accused the NDLEA agents of being careless.

The reason the operatives should shoot randomly in a residential area was questioned by a resident by the name of Olasunkanmi, according to The Punch.

Olasunkanmi remarked, “We are not saying that the NDLEA should not carry out its duties, but why will its agents be shooting in a residential area anyhow? Around 10 p.m., NDLEA agents entered a local drug den and began seizing illegal drugs, which is acceptable.

“The operatives numbered around 50, and the majority of them were armed. Some people were dressed in the company uniform, while others were in casual clothing. As a result of the raid, the drug dealers became incensed and threatened to cause trouble.

“However, in an effort to get their way, the NDLEA agents began to fire, and unintentional hits to two young boys’ heads and chest resulted. They both passed away instantly. Gafar Yusuf is one of the victims’ names. After killing them, the NDLEA agents tried to remove their corpses, but the locals resisted.

Apparently, Yusuf’s mother, Olaide, who had been distraught since learning of her son’s passing, told him about the incident, according to a different local resident by the name of Lukmon.

He declared, “We are sick and tired of the NDLEA’s problem in our neighbourhood. Why would they shoot indiscriminately in a residential area? Instead of shooting carelessly to the point of killing two innocent people, they should have a target and a strategy for how they will capture the target if they truly want to work.

“It is not appropriate; they stormed the scene with weapons and began firing. On Imoru Street, Gafar Yusuf, 22, died. We have already begun planning how to bury his body. Although I can only confirm the deaths of two people at this time, we were told that three people were killed during the raid.

“Yusuf’s mother called me yesterday to say that a bullet had hit him and that he was out running errands when he was hit by the bullets fired by the NDLEA operatives,”

As they gathered around the victims’ corpses, locals were seen in video clips sobbing.

To this development, the NDLEA has not yet responded.