Hoodlums att@cked NDLEA operatives in Port Harcourt during the arrest of a suspected drug dealer.
The violent clash left officers injured and a patrol vehicle damaged before calm was restored.
Suspected hoodlums launched a v!olent att@ck on operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during an operation to arrest a notorious drug dealer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, along Odunze Lane in Mile 3 Diobu, causing widespread panic in the area.
Eyewitnesses said the chaos began shortly after NDLEA officers apprehended the suspect, identified as Okpe, who is believed to be a major player in the local drug network. Moments after his arrest, a group of hoodlums armed with machetes, stones, and bottles att@cked the operatives in an attempt to free him.
The officers reportedly fired warning shots into the air to disperse the att@ckers as the situation escalated. In the process, some NDLEA personnel sustained injuries, and one of the agency’s vehicles was damaged. Nearby traders hurriedly shut their shops, while commuters and pedestrians fled for safety as the clash spread through the area.
A source within the agency told reporters that the suspect had been on the NDLEA’s wanted list for some time. “After his arrest, he raised an alarm, which drew the attention of his accomplices. They began throwing bottles and other objects at our personnel. Some of our officers were injured, and our vehicle was damaged,” the source said.
Despite the assault, NDLEA operatives successfully secured the suspect and transported him to a safe location. The source confirmed that the man was found with a “large exhibit” and is currently in custody for further investigation.
Security operatives have since been deployed to the scene to restore calm, while the NDLEA is expected to release an official statement regarding the att@ck.
