LAGOS – Six people feared dead on Saturday morning at Patey area of Lagos Island when hoodlums attacked the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives who raided the area to arrest drug kingpin and others engaged in the sales of hard drugs.

Eye witness accounted that, the operatives who have every information about where they are going, went to the kingpin building located at Patey street to effect the arrest and recover the drugs.

According to the source, “the operatives were able to apprehended the female drug baron and six others, while illicit drug worth millions of naira was also recovered within some minutes”.

“It was when the NDLEA men was about to leave that some hoodlums numbering about 65 people, including young girls blocked the road, demanding for the release of the suspects. The operatives fired two shots up to scare them away but the miscreants who were armed with dangerous weapons like guns, cutlasses, bottles and stones replied them with gun shots.

“It was when the hoodlums advanced towards the operatives, stoning and firing gun shots that the security men fired back. Some of the operatives too were hit during the attack and when about six of the attackers fell that rest took to their heels, thereby created chance for the operatives to escape with the suspects and the exhibits recovered”, the source revealed.

It was also gathered that some of the deceased have been buried, while some of hoodlums who sustained injuries during attack were learnt to have been taken to undisclosed private hospitals for medical treatment.

Some residents who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity implored the NDLEA, State Government and the Police to intensify their efforts to rid the area of the drugs sale and Lagos Island in general.

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“Repeated raiding of this Patey areas and other parts of Lagos Island will be highly appreciated and commendable because many youths, especially school children who are being influenced by the notorious drug peddlers will be minimised or totally eradicators”, they appealed.

Confirming the report, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi in a statement stated that 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 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 statement added.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers and men of the Lagos Command of the Agency for the successful operation.

He warned those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work to desist or face dire consequences.