By Uche Amunike
Suspected Lekki drug dealer, Sowunmi Ayodeji Kayode, has been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to a statement released by spokesperson of the agency Femi Babafemi, the suspect drove his luxury car to crush an officer in his bid to escape arrest when operatives were on a search of his house last weekend.
Speaking through the statement, Babafemi asserted that the NDLEA officers raided the residence of Sowunmi Ayodeji Kayode at 2/3 Adetola Ayeni Close, Lekki, Lagos on August 18, 2023 after they got credible intelligence that he was dealing illicit drugs in his home.
According to him, when the NDLEA operatives got into his compound, he was not at home. However, he returned during a search of his apartment by the anti-narcotics. operatives.
The statement read: ‘In a dramatic twist, as soon as he drove into the premises and sighted NDLEA officers, he engaged his car in reverse gear, knocked down one of the officers, and pulled down his gate before plunging the vehicle into the fence of the opposite compound.’
‘The force of his car’s speed also pulled down the concrete wall of his neighbour’s compound, and from there he dived out of the vehicle to escape.’
‘A thorough search of his apartment, however, led to the recovery of 10.5 kilograms of Loud, while the operative knocked down suffered multiple injuries all over his body and a compound fracture on his two legs, for which he is currently on hospital admission for treatment’, it concluded.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has mandated the agency to deploy every appropriate operational asset possible, to fish out the suspect from his hiding place.
The statement read: ‘Following the unpleasant development, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed the deployment of appropriate operational assets of the agency to smoke out the wanted suspect from his hiding.’
He has also given his approval for the injured NDLEA operative to be given adequate medical attention needed for him to get back on his feet as quickly as possible.
The NDLEA has tried to sanitize the country by arresting numerous individuals involved in drug related crimes in different states, on a regular basis. Between January and July, investigations show that not less than 214 suspects have been arrested in Gombe state. Within that period, about 93.95kg of Cannabis Sativa, 257.5kg of Psychotropic substance and methamphetamine were recovered from the suspected dealers.
According to the NDLEA Deputy Commander on Narcotics in Gombe State, Mr Bello Mumuni, during a program organized by the Association of Professional Counselors in Nigeria, Monday, the suspects included 200 males and 14 females. 137 of them have been prosecuted, while 30 have been convicted.
He condemned the high rate of drug and substance abuse in Gombe and found it alarming that the pattern cut across gender and social status.
He hoped the NDLEA rehabilitation center would be utilized more than it presently was, for the good of the youths being affected by the drug scourge.
