Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have been accused of drowning a 32-year-old graduate of Law, Dapo Olasore, in the Agboyi, Alapere area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened on Sunday after the officials, who came in two vans without number plates, raided the area.

Our correspondent gathered that Olasore, aka Omopo, was about boarding a canoe to a neighbouring community to see a relative, when the officials stormed the community.

They were said to have shot sporadically into the air, sending frightened residents fleeing in different directions.

However, Olasore, who was by the riverside, was said to have been held by the trousers by the NDLEA men; and in a bid to free himself, fell into the water.

A boatman, who attempted to save him, was said to have been threatened with guns, leading to the death of the victim.

When our correspondent visited the community, he observed a crowd of residents and motorcyclists in the area, who had got wind of the news, at the riverside.

It was learnt that the victim, who graduated from a university in Ondo State, joined the National Union of Road Transport Workers in 2014, after he could not get a job.

His family was said to be resident in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

A witness and friend of the victim, Tosin Oshin, said the NDLEA officials arrived around 10.45am.

He said, “It happened around 10.45am. We suddenly saw two white vehicles in our community. They began shooting into the air and everybody started running helter-skelter.

“They went to the riverside, where Omopo (Olasore) was about boarding a canoe. As Omopo saw one of them, he wanted to run like other people, but the officers held him. In the struggle to free himself, he fell into the river.

“A boat operator, who was about to rescue him, was threatened with guns. Omopo raised his hand and asked for help, but they didn’t help him.”

Oshin said immediately the incident happened, the officials fled the community with two suspects.

The boat operator, Dayo Seun, said before the victim finally drowned, he made an attempt to rescue him, but the officials prevented him.

He said, “I was on the other side of the river when I saw the man fall inside the river. I quickly paddled my canoe to the place he fell into to rescue him, but they pointed their guns at me, and asked me to go back.”

A resident, Omolara Adekunle, said the anti-narcotics officials were always harassing residents, adding that after making arrests, they usually collected about N40,000 for bail.

“It is not only the NDLEA that come here to conduct this illegal raid. The police too are complicit; they have no fear of God.

“Those they arrest, they collect between N40, 000 to N45,000 from their relatives before they release them.”

Another resident, Ayeni Oluwatoyin, told our correspondent that one of the suspects arrested, one Sunday Babalola, was planning his graduation as a qualified mechanic for August 26.

Oluwatoyin, who showed our correspondent a vest the suspect had distributed to his friends for the celebration, said Babalola was giving out the vests when he was arrested.

“After collecting the vests from him, they (NDLEA men) grabbed him by the neck and hit him. The boy begged them, but they did not let him go,” she said.

A resident said the community would hold a procession for the victim, after his remains had been found.

“By Tuesday, his body should float. We will hold a candlelight procession for him on Friday,” she said.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, confirmed that there was a raid on the community by the agency, but denied knowledge that anybody was drowned.

He said, “The NDLEA went in search of a notorious drug dealer, named Saheed, following an information on his activities, which has constituted nuisance to people in that neighbourhood.

“Unfortunately, we did not find him as of the time of getting to the place. One Babalola was arrested and he was found with 1.3 kilogrammes of cannabis. During the operation, some people escaped through the river because they knew their activities contravened the NDLEA Act. But we are not aware anybody drowned.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/ndlea-allows-graduate-to-drown-during-raid/

cc lalasticlala

Picture of Agboyi River

See wahala.
What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
What happened to intelligent information gathering from suspects?
His life was not theirs to take.
If this story is true, someone has to take the fall

Nigeria, we are killing our children. God will judge these foolish devils who watched a young man drown. There is payback time. Uniform and gun in Nigeria equal to kill and go.


I just hope this barbaric and autocratic behaviour is not swept under the carpet. Good thing there is that there were witnesses. Hopefully, they don't get threatened or cajoled into silence.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju,
confirmed that there was a raid on the community
by the agency, but denied knowledge that anybody was drowned.

do I expect him to admit to the crime that his men did commit....



the paramilitary agencies officers will always find ways to cover-up their staffs even when they are wrong




no be naija we dey

Do people still ride on boats without life jackets?

Imagine wickedneas...n askd it wud b lyk dey r doin der job ..nonsese

GboyegaD:
Do people still ride on boats without life jackets?

Too much garri have dulled ur brain oo.. check the below;

''However, Olasore, who was by the riverside, was said to have been held by the trousers by the NDLEA men; and in a bid to free himself, fell into the water.''

The uniform boys are back, abusing human rights...

well Karma is a Biatch...

RIP to the deceased...

NIGERIA

You went to arrest saheed and ended up killing omopo without even arresting the prime target. Pure incompetency. One oga is covering his boys' wickedness. Na God go judge una. When criminals kill the officers we will be pitying you without knowing that some of you are passing their deserved punishment.

See what the retard NDLEA spokesperson said:

He said, “The NDLEA went in search of a notorious drug dealer, named Saheed, following an information on his activities, which has constituted nuisance to people in that neighbourhood.

“Unfortunately, we did not find him as of the time of getting to the place.

Animals in uniform.
Who goes for a raid by first of all shooting indiscriminately to announce their presence? How do you hope to catch the crook you were looking for by shooting first and cause chaos? You expect the criminals to come out in surrender just like that?

I don't know what outdated and archaic manual these law enforcement people still study. They have caused the death of an innocent person, and worse, still denied it happened.

Let us assume the man jumped deliberately to avoid arrest ,but at the point he was drowning and needed help the officers interrupted a safety effort to safe his dying life. What inhuman vampire attitude from law officers whom sole responsibility and duty is to protect lives and property of Nigerians. This is wickedness and heartlessness ! Therefore ,to this reason we can accuse the officers of murder charge. If he was allowed to be rescued a case can be established against him for making attempt to run from the law .This guy was sentenced to death before trial ,without a proof of being guilty or not .Negligence of duty by those involved and act of Satan.

Nigeria, we are killing our children. God will judge these foolish devils who watched a young man drown. There is payback time. Uniform and gun in Nigeria equal to kill and go. Why won't these idiots go and face boko haram? Government, over to you. Bring these vandals to justice. May the soul of the dead rest in peace.


Well, But the question is why did d guy ran and jumped into water when he was innocent after all he saw them in uniforms (or they weren't on uniform?) and d man who attempted to rescue him didn't.... thorough investigation is needed to ascertain his true identity. But the ndlea pple are wrong all the same not to have allowed the boat man to rescue him, they would hav been able to interrogate him to establish the truth.

Seriously, d ppl behind dis must be booked..dis is shear wickedness
#peace

Only a people without soul would watch another man die even when you have the ability to rescue that person........people are very wicked......

May his soul rest in peace.

U

hmmmm.....

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Contact me now!

that was how they killed a shoe maker In Aba. illegal raid! raiding with no warrant, just to "obtain" people

Nigeria, we are killing our children. God will judge these foolish devils who watched a young man drown. There is payback time. Uniform and gun in Nigeria equal to kill and go. Why won't these idiots go and face boko haram? Government, over to you. Bring these vandals to justice. May the soul of the dead rest in peace.

Too bad

Heartless people.....nd to think dis NDLEA thugs are the worst junkies u ll find around....most of the exibits they sieze ends up in their own body

RIP

OK

did u use the word "allow" how?

haaa omase ooo

Welcome to Nigeria. A lawless country where anybody working for the government with gun sees him/herself as a god. Just imagine that statement from their spokesman, they went there to raid without suspecting any illegal drug dealing. RIP to the young man

Hmmm. Lawless country

I don't believe the part where they stop someone from saving the drowning guy..doesn't add up. .



Check my signature Call or whatsapp

https://www.nairaland.com/2582274/toks-2008-toyota-fj-cruiser

Crincum!!! I am managerial Bewildered that this Hydromonopologeographicalism is Bad

See Story.

Punch is getting as useless as Sahara reporters.

Whatever happened to investigative journalism.