Ondo State, Nigeria – Tragedy struck during a drug bust operation in Ondo West Local Government Area as suspected drug dealers opened fire on operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), killing one officer.
The slain operative, identified simply as Jide, was part of a team of NDLEA officers conducting a sting operation on an apartment in the Itanla area of Ondo town. The raid was reportedly based on intelligence that illicit drugs were being stored inside the ceiling of the residence.
According to a source familiar with the operation, the team arrived in the early hours of the day and proceeded to recover the hidden drugs. While some officers entered the building to retrieve the narcotics, Officer Jide remained outside to provide security. It was during this time that unidentified gunmen ambushed him.
“From nowhere, gunmen appeared and opened fire,” the source recounted. “Officer Jide was shot in the neck. He was rushed to the hospital, but he didn’t survive. The doctors confirmed him dead on arrival. It’s a heartbreaking loss.”
The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the incident. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olayinka Ayanlade, said that four suspects have already been apprehended in connection with the attack.
“Immediately we received the report, our officers moved in to support the NDLEA team,” Ayanlade stated. “We have arrested four individuals believed to be connected to the shooting. A single-barrel firearm used in the attack was also recovered from the scene.”
He added that investigations are ongoing in collaboration with the NDLEA to identify and prosecute all those responsible for the killing.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for increased protection and support for law enforcement officers who risk their lives daily in the fight against drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
The NDLEA has yet to issue an official statement, but sources within the agency described the attack as a “cowardly and deliberate attempt to intimidate operatives and derail anti-narcotics operations.”
