An officer with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was fatally shot during a raid targeting suspected drug traffickers in Ondo State, local authorities confirmed Tuesday. The incident occurred in the Ita’nla area of Ondo town, where NDLEA operatives stormed a residential building believed to conceal banned substances.
Ondo State Police Commissioner Adebowale Lawal, speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealed that four suspects were arrested in connection with the killing. A single-barrel gun was recovered during the operation. “Investigations are ongoing to ensure justice is served,” Lawal said, adding that the officer’s body had been moved to a hospital morgue. He did not disclose the identity of the deceased or elaborate on the circumstances of the attack.
Sources familiar with the incident described a coordinated effort by NDLEA officials to seize drugs reportedly hidden in the ceiling of the targeted building. The raid followed intelligence tips about illicit substances stored at the location, prompting an early morning sting operation. While some agents entered the premises to retrieve evidence, the slain officer remained outside as a guard.
“Armed assailants ambushed the officer, opening fire without warning,” a source recounted. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. The attack underscores the dangers faced by anti-narcotics personnel in Nigeria, where clashes with drug cartels have escalated in recent years.
The NDLEA, tasked with curbing drug trafficking and abuse nationwide, has intensified operations amid rising concerns over organized crime networks. Ondo State, though not traditionally a hotspot for narcotics, has seen increased law enforcement activity targeting clandestine drug operations. The recovered firearm suggests suspects may have been prepared for confrontation, raising questions about the firepower available to criminal groups.
Authorities have yet to confirm the quantity or type of drugs seized during the raid. The arrested suspects remain in police custody as investigators work to determine their roles in the officer’s death. Local communities have expressed alarm over the brazen violence, calling for stricter measures to protect law enforcement agents.
This incident marks one of the deadliest confrontations involving NDLEA personnel in 2024, highlighting persistent challenges in combating drug-related crime. The agency has not issued an official statement, but the police reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling networks linked to the attack. As tensions simmer, residents of Ita’nla await further updates on a case that has cast a shadow over the state’s security landscape.
