Four injured as NDLEA, NURTW clash in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

A clash between operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and members of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) in Osogbo, Osun State, reportedly left four people injured on Thursday.

It was gathered that officials of the NDLEA trailed a vehicle suspected to be carrying cannabis to old garage in Osogbo and in an attempt to arrest the driver and seize the hard drugs engaged in gun battle with NURTW members.

Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the incident said the NDLEA officials were attacked while doing their legitimate duty.

“From preliminary report I got, our men had intelligence information that a vehicle was bringing in substance suspected to be hard drugs to Osogbo today (Thursday).

“They followed the vehicle to a particular garage to see who the consignment would be delivered to. 

“So, at the time they arrested the driver, he raised the alarm and miscreants in the garage came out with bottles, cutlasses and guns and our command was able to call for reinforcement, which was provided and in an attempt to withdraw from the scene, there was conflict.

“I think four of the miscreants were injured and they have been taken to the hospital,” Babafemi said.

Also speaking on the incident, Chairman of the unit, Oyewale Kazeem said though he was not at the park at the time but it was reported to him that NDLEA suspected a bus driver that he was transporting substance suspected to be Indian hemp to the park.

“When they got to the park, in an attempt to arrest the said driver, they were shooting sporadically around the park which led to four persons being injured.

“The situation angered the boys in the park and they tried to resist the NDLEA officers to limit number of people that will sustain gunshot wounds,” Kazeem said.