Details have emerged that drug users who carried out the baptism of fire at the premises of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Upper Sakponba road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government area  of Edo State on Wednesday, rode on the back of disruption of supply chain of Cannabis sativa better known as ‘India hemp’.

The attack occurred barely 48 hours after Government imposed curfew to to quell the activities of hoodlums, according to a security source were having a field day fled the scene of the two police stations earlier in the day before they carried out the attack at NDLEA premises.

The source revealed that seized and looted illicit drug — mostly Cannabis and other hard drugs are kept on the NDLEA Warehouse before the hoodlums set the building on fire, leaving on its wake, pollutant and sooth in the atmosphere.

The Official who said that he does not want to named, hinted that the hoodlums however turned their attention to the anti-narcotic agency after two failed bids to purchase cannabis in the locality.

“They (hoodlums) sent a subordinate to buy them the weed (Indian hemp), but could not find as the sellers had exhausted the item.

“While the subordinate was still explaining the sales points he visited, one of them pointed to the direction of NDLEA office a witness who craved for anonymity,  the hoodlums  however turned their attention to the anti-narcotic agency after two failed bids to purchase cannabis in the locality.

“They (hoodlums) sent a subordinate to buy them the item (indian helm), but could not find as the sellers had exhausted the weed.

“While the subordinate was still explaining the sales points he visited, one of them pointed to the direction of NDLEA office — few meters away and began to chant anti-government songs before they gained access to the facility. 

“Others immediately marched along with him; wielding various weapons”. 

“Others immediately marched along with him; wielding various weapons”. 

Confirming to the incident to our Correspondent on Thursday, the State Commandant of NDLEA, Mr. Buba Wakawa, said the pleas to the armed men numbering over 100 not to overrun the Command on Wednesday, fell on deaf ears the third time after luring them out the premises twice — Monday October 19 and Tuesday 20th 2020.

He said that the hoodlums set free all the detainees who were held in their detention facility for drug-related offices before the unfortunate incident.

According to him, “The boys came first on Monday and wanted to destroy the place. We pleaded with them, they left.

“The following day (on Tuesday), they returned to our premises and said that they want to burn down the place, after while, they left.

“On Wednesday, the boys armed with dangerous weapons in large number to the place and began to protest that one the protests was shot by security operatives in the area.

“We told them that it is not our men that shot, they did not listen to us. They went ahead to free suspects in our custody, took all the things that they could carry set the place on fire and left.

“We know that we are working for Government… Our personnel were overpowered. One of them who escaped through the fence at the back of the NDLEA premises when they came and got injured in the process”, the NDLEA Commander said.

He however declined comment on why help was not within reach to stop the attackers after 48 hours.

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