Emerging reports have it that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were purportedly involved in a shooting incident during their raid in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State, which resulted in the deaths of two persons, one of them named Gafar Yusuf.
Information obtained by Africa Today News, New York suggests that the NDLEA operatives initiated a drug den raid in the community at about 10 pm on Wednesday. However, during the operation, they allegedly started shooting indiscriminately as part of their efforts to a successful operation.
Regrettably, the victims were killed by stray bullets discharged by the NDLEA operatives as they fired sporadically to dissuade hoodlums from interfering with their operation in the community.
Olasunkanmi, a resident who witnessed the unfortunate incident, mourned the loss of life and questioned the NDLEA operatives’ judgment. The rationale behind firing shots indiscriminately in a residential area was unclear to him.
Gafar Yusuf, a victim of the incident died after being struck in the head, and another unidentified victim suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
Read also: Ivan’s Death: Reps Call For NDLEA Officers’ Prosecution
Olasunkanmi said, ‘We are not saying the NDLEA should not do their job, but why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? The NDLEA operatives invaded a drug den in the community around 10pm and started seizing illicit drugs which is OK.’
‘The operatives were about 50 in number and most of them were armed. While some wore the official uniform, others were dressed in casual wear. The people dealing in the drug business were enraged by the raid and started threatening to make trouble.’
‘But the NDLEA operatives started shooting to have their way and stray bullets hit two young boys in the head and chest. Both of them died on the spot. The name of one of the victims is Gafar Yusuf. After killing them, the NDLEA operatives attempted to take their corpses away but people in the area resisted.’
As per Olasunkanmi’s account, the victims’ died instantly, with no hope of survival.
Lukmon, who resides in the same community, recounted that he was personally informed by Olaide, the mother of Yusuf, about the devastating events that caused her son’s death. He shared that Olaide has been deeply distraught and inconsolable ever since.
He said, ‘We are tired of the NDLEA’s issue in our neighbourhood. Why will they be shooting carelessly in a residential neighbourhood? If they want to work, it is expected that they would have a target and they should have a plan for how they will arrest the target instead of shooting carelessly to the point of killing two innocent persons.’
‘It is uncalled for; they suddenly stormed the area with guns and started shooting. Gafar Yusuf, 22, was killed on Imoru Street. We are already making arrangements to bury his corpse. We heard three people were killed during the raid but what I can confirm to you for now is the death of two persons.’
‘Yusuf’s mother called me yesterday that a bullet had hit him and that he was running errands when he got struck down by the bullets fired by the NDLEA operatives.’
Video clips obtained by newsmen showed the dramatic scene during the raid, with residents running in panic to seek cover.