Two people, one of whom was Gafar Yusuf, were allegedly killed by agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State.
According to reports, the NDLEA operatives conducted a drug den raid in the community around 10 pm on Wednesday, during which they began shooting sporadically in an attempt to carry out their operation.
Tragically, stray bullets from the shooting, aimed at deterring hoodlums from interfering with their mission, hit and killed the victims.
A resident, known as Olasunkanmi, expressed distress over the incident and questioned why the operatives were shooting indiscriminately in a residential area. He revealed that one victim was shot in the head (Gafar Yusuf), while the other victim’s identity remains unknown.
Regrettably, both victims lost their lives on the spot, leading to heightened anger among community members due to the incident.
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 10 p.m. 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 cause 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.”
Lukmon, a fellow resident, recounted that Yusuf’s mother, Olaide, has been inconsolable since the tragic events that took her son’s life, and she personally 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.”
Video clips in the possession of our correspondent captured the tense atmosphere in the community during the raid, with people running in panic and confusion.
One of the videos depicted residents in tears, surrounding the lifeless bodies of the victims lying on the road. Bloodstains were visible on the road, adding to the anger and frustration expressed by the people over the tragic incident.
Despite attempts to reach the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, for a statement, he did not respond to calls and had not replied to a text message sent to his mobile number as of the time this report was filed.
