4 NDLEA Officers Shot Dead At Checkpoint In Ondo State; Suspects Set Their Patrol Van Ablaze

Four National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers under Ondo state command lost their lives after being shot by gunmen suspected to be drug dealers.

The incident reportedly occurred over the weekend while the deceased were on duty at the checkpoint of the agency’s Ifon Division around Ikaro/Sabo axis in Ose local government area of Ondo State, via the Owo/Benin highway.

Accoerding to a source, the gunmen suspected to be drug dealers were three in number. The gunmen armed with AK 47 rifles came on motorcycles and shot four NDLEA officers and as well set ablaze the agency’s Toyota Hilux.

“The NDLEA officers were five in number at the check point but one of them escaped and their rifles were taken away,” the source said. Same source confirmed that the bodies of the NDLEA officials were found by some farmers in the early hours of the day.

“When their bodies were discovered, their guns were not found with them.

“Our society is no more safe, if armed men are being gunned down like that,” the source lamented.

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The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Haruna Dagara, who confirmed the incident, said efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

“Our men have gone to evacuate the corpses from the scene and other paramilitary agencies are on ground,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deceased officials have been identified as, Abduljalad Mohammed; Wellinton Emmanuel; Magaji Aliu and Mohammed lliyasu.

Based on various statistics, among all the states in Nigeria, Ondo State is one of the strongest dealers of drug. They also specialize in the cultivation of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as “Indian Hemp”.