Cynthia Ezegwu
A joint team of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigerian Army personnel came under attack on Monday during an anti-drug operation in Ukpuje town, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The NDLEA State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the area is notorious for cannabis cultivation and trafficking.
According to him, the team encountered resistance from local cultivators as they advanced through the community, resulting in an exchange of gunfire that forced the operatives to temporarily withdraw before resuming the operation.
Ofoyeju said one officer sustained an injury after being struck on the hand with a sharp object. The officer, he added, has since received medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery.
He commended the bravery of the NDLEA and Army personnel involved in the operation, stressing that the mission was aimed at disrupting illegal drug activities in the region.
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“Although we faced resistance, we are grateful that no life was lost, and our team was able to carry out the operation efficiently,” he said.
The NDLEA commander reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying the fight against drug cultivation and trafficking in Edo State, describing such operations as vital in promoting community safety and achieving a drug-free society.
The Ukpuje raid forms part of a broader nationwide strategy by the NDLEA to curb illicit drug production and distribution. In recent months, the agency has raided several drug hotspots, arrested traffickers, secured convictions, and conducted sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of substance abuse.