Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
A gang of hoodlums suspected to be cultists mobilized, attacked and successfully set a drug trafficking kingpin free from the custody of operatives of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, soon after his arrest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday evening.
The incident happened around Odunze street axis of Ikwerre road in Mile 3, Diobu, in the state capital.
An eyewitness in the area said the large number of hoodlums who were armed with guns, knives, broken bottles and other dangerous weapons attacked the NDLEA officials shortly after they arrested a drug dealer popularly known as ’50’.”
It was learnt that three of the NDLEA officials dressed in mufti had in an undercover operation successfully entered the Odunze, an area regarded as a den of cultists and illicit drug trafficking at Mile 3, Diobu with the said ’50’ as their prime target.
A source, however, revealed that after the NDLEA officials apprehended the said “50” and were dragging him to their patrol van stationed at Ikwerre road by Iheoma street, Mile 3, Diobu, scores of suspected Deygbam cultists mobilized to the scene and confronted them.
Armed dangerous weapons, like bottles, stones and guns, the cultists launched an attack on the officials of NDLEA
It was further gathered that the in self defense, and to scare off the hoodlums, the NDLEA officials fired some shots into the air.
But the rampaging cultists were not deterred as they eventually aided the escape of their ally ’50’ before the NDLEA patrol van arrived at the scene.
Some of the NDLEA officials reportedly sustained injuries in the attack.
Eyewitnesses stated that the incident caused pandemonium and heavy traffic around the Ikwerre road axis of the city.
It was further learnt taking advantage of the confusion, the hoodlums went on rampage robbing pedestrians and motorists.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, head of Public Affairs Officer, Media and Advocacy unit of NDLEA in Rivers State has not officially reacted to the incident as at the time of writing this report.
However, Police patrol vans are seen patrolling the area .
