A gang of hoodlums suspected to be cultists mobilised, attacked, and successfully freed a drug trafficking kingpin from the custody of NDLEA operatives in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday.
According to reports, the incident occurred near the Odunze street/Ikwerre road axis in Mile 3, Diobu, the state capital.
According to an eyewitness in the area, a large number of hoodlums armed with guns, knives, broken bottles, and other dangerous weapons attacked NDLEA officials shortly after they arrested a drug dealer known as “50.”
It was learned that three NDLEA officials dressed in mufti had successfully entered the Odunze, an area regarded as a den of cultists and illicit drug trafficking at Mile 3, Diobu, in an undercover operation with the said ’50’ as their primary target.
According to a source, after NDLEA officials apprehended the alleged “50” and were dragging him to their patrol van stationed at Ikwerre road by Iheoma street, Mile 3, Diobu, a large number of suspected Deygbam cultists mobilised and confronted them.
Armed dangerous weapons, like bottles, stones and guns, the cultists launched an attack on the officials of NDLEA.
It was further gathered that the in self defense, and to scare off the hoodlums, the NDLEA officials fired some shots into the air.
But the rampaging cultists were not deterred as they eventually aided the escape of their ally ’50’ before the NDLEA patrol van arrived at the scene.
Some of the NDLEA officials reportedly sustained injuries in the attack.
Eyewitnesses stated that the incident caused pandemonium and heavy traffic around the Ikwerre road axis of the city.
It was further learnt taking advantage of the confusion; the hoodlums went on rampage robbing pedestrians and motorists.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, head of Public Affairs Officer, Media and Advocacy unit of NDLEA in Rivers State has not officially reacted to the incident as at the time of writing this report.
However, Police patrol vans are seen patrolling the area.
