Two people have been killed in a drug raid by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State, on Wednesday night.
According to reports, the victims, identified as Gafar Yusuf and one other person whose identity is yet to be confirmed, were reportedly hit by stray bullets from the NDLEA operatives who were shooting sporadically in the area.
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The NDLEA operatives had stormed the community around 10 pm to raid a drug den, but they were met with resistance from some residents engaged in the drug business.
The NDLEA operatives then started shooting to disperse the crowd, and in the process, the two victims were hit by stray bullets.
The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The incident has caused anger and outrage among residents of the community, who have accused the NDLEA operatives of recklessness.
A resident named Olasunkanmi questioned why the operatives should shoot sporadically in a residential area, The Punch reports.
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.”
Another resident, named Lukmon, said Yusuf’s mother, Olaide, who had been inconsolable since the news of the son’s death, informed him about the incident.
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.”
The NDLEA has yet to respond to the development.