Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Cross River State have been accused of assaulting Radio Nigeria journalist Prince Alobi during an operation along Lemna Road, Calabar, on Monday. The agency, however, said its personnel were attacked by a mob during the incident.

Alobi, a broadcast journalist with Radio Nigeria’s Canaan City FM 99.5, said the incident occurred at about 3 pm near Northwest Filling Station, in the Parliamentary Extension area. He explained that he heard gunshots, informed his station that he intended to cover the development and went outside his nearby office to investigate.

According to the journalist, an NDLEA operative slapped him, causing him to lose consciousness. He alleged that the assault continued despite identifying himself as a member of the press.

“I was screaming, ‘I am a press man,’ but the beating continued. I was bundled and thrown into the trunk of their Hilux, while they collected my iPhones and smashed them both,” Alobi said.

He added that the alleged assault left him experiencing severe pain, particularly around his ribs. The destruction of his phones also disrupted his work, prompting him to call for accountability over the incident.

However, Assistant Commander of Narcotics Kabiru Abdullahi, Officer-in-Charge of the NDLEA Dragon Squad in Cross River, gave a different account. He said the operatives were conducting a motorised stop-and-search patrol when they intercepted a motorcycle carrying a man and two women. According to him, the team recovered a whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, from the suspects’ belongings.

Abdullahi alleged that three other men arrived and incited a crowd after the initial suspects resisted the search. He said the mob attacked the officers with sticks, stones and pieces of wood, injuring some personnel and attempting to free the suspects. One officer was taken to hospital after being stoned, while the initial suspects escaped. Three people allegedly involved in instigating the attack were subsequently arrested, and officers recovered two grammes of suspected methamphetamine and one gramme of a substance suspected to be synthetic cannabinoid, locally known as Colorado.

ALSO READ

• Army Arrests Nine Suspected Drug Dealers, Hands Over Illicit Drugs To NDLEA In Yobe
• NDLEA Officer Chasing Drug Suspect Drowns in Delta River

Meanwhile, NDLEA Cross River Command Public Relations Officer Sebastian Lebo acknowledged the incident and said the command was taking steps to address it. He added that Alobi would be compensated, his damaged phones would be replaced and an official statement would be issued.