Hoodlums attack policemen, NDLEA officials

Armed hoodlums suspected to have been hired by Indian hemp barons in Eyinogbe area of Owo town, on Thursday, attacked and injured operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcment Agency and policemen who attempted to open their warehouse.

The Ondo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Walter Nicholas, who stated this while briefing journalists in his office, in Akure, said two of the NDLEA officers and three policemen suffered gunshot woundsand they had been rushed to an hospital in the town for medical attention.


Nicholas said the consignments of Indian hemp in the warehouse could rank as that single largest concentration of the illicit plant, in recent times.


He said his officer, acting on tip off, went to the community with 70 policemen and 30 NDLEA operatives saying the warehouse was jointly owned by a consortium of barons in the area.


He said, “The operation was led by the agency‘s Operation Commander in the state, Mr. Polycap Duguba; the Police Area Commander in Owo and the Divisonal Police Officer in charge of the town around 2.00am toady (Thursday).


“No sooner had they forced the warehouse open than they were ambushed by over 100 hoodlums who were armed by the barons in ten commercial buses, emerged from their hidings and opened fire of the security agencies.


“They also set ablaze, the bags of indian hemps which they packed in front of the warehouse and sprinkle the warehouse with petrol in order to burn my officers and the policemen alive just to frustrate attempt to keep them out of business.


“My officers and the security men made use of their profesional tactics and training to escape the attack which would have been a major massacre but for the special grace of God” Nicholas stated.


The NDLEA boss, however, said his men went back to the place few hours after and recovered about 23 tonnes of Indian hemp valued at about N23m.


He pleaded with the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, to speak with traditional rulers in the state, especially in Owo kingdom to identify those buying lands from them to plant hemps and hand them over to security agencies.
SOURCE:PUNCH

Posted: at 5-11-2010 12:24 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

aborted

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Posted: at 5-11-2010 02:34 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

From pillar to post. Even the traditional rulers are gaining from the trade, including very rich and notable people in that state. Abeg leave market for traders, make una no deceive us.

Posted: at 6-11-2010 02:10 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming