A routine anti-narcotics bust took a fatal turn in Delta State over the weekend when an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) drowned during a frantic chase of a fleeing suspect.
The harrowing incident unfolded on Saturday in the Obiaruku community of Ukwuani Local Government Area, leaving a local anti-narcotics operation dead. Reports indicated that what began as a normal tactical arrest quickly descended into chaos near the River Ethiope Bridge.
According to local sources, operatives had successfully intercepted a suspect allegedly trafficking illicit cargo. But as officers escorted the offender, allegedly conveying the illicit drugs, towards the River Ethiope Bridge, the situation abruptly escalated.
In a desperate bid to evade arrest, the suspect suddenly escaped from the officers’ grip, and plunged headlong into the murky waters. But refusing to let the target slip away, officers plunged in after him. Unfortunately, the high-stakes aquatic pursuit quickly turned perilous.
While backup teams managed to pull one struggling operative from the current and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he is currently battling for his life following an emergency treatment, his colleague was not so lucky as he vanished beneath the surface.
Competent sources disclosed that the primary suspect and his accomplices managed to vanish into the river network. However, hours later, local divers recovered the lifeless body of the missing officer, which was subsequently released to the NDLEA after community members performed traditional rites customary for drowning victims along the River Ethiope.
Describing the unfortunate incident as a mystery, another source noted that the river was not deep enough to drown someone, even as he explained that certain rites, including the provision of a goat and other specified items, must be performed always before the remains of a drowning victim can be released by the community.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Delta State Commander of the NDLEA, Halilu Hamidi, directed inquiries to national agency spokesperson Femi Babafemi, with reports indicating that internal investigations are underway to piece together the exact sequence of events surrounding the incident and determine the actual cause of the officer’s death.
