The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abia State has lost part of its office at Amaekpu in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state to unknown assailants who damaged a large portion of the office. The midnight attack took place at 3 am on Tuesday, NDLEA Abia commander, Dele Akingbade confirmed to NAN in Umuahia. Mr. Akingbade blamed the attack on hoodlums, adding that only a section of the office complex was set ablaze. However, he noted that the office was not razed down, no life was lost and only minimal damage was done to the building. “The attackers came in around 3 am Tuesday morning, looking for seized drugs, ammunition, and intention to free suspects in NDLEA custody,” he said.
“The attackers, on getting to the place, smashed some windows, destroying some office chairs.”
He said that the assailants’ intention was to free the suspects who were detained in the facility.
“But prior information available to NDLEA on impending attacks on security outfits in the state necessitated the movement and relocation of the arms, including the suspects and seized drugs.
“However, the suspects were relocated out of the facility, in the wake of Monday’s attack on the nearby office of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.
He added that the agency recorded no casualties and that their weapons were intact, adding that important official documents were stored in a fire-proof safe.
The Abia State Government, in its reaction to the incident, vowed that it would spare no efforts to get the masterminds of the attack.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Okiyi Kalu, the government will get the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Facilities belonging to state institutions, including police formations and an INEC office, have come under attack by gunmen in the last few days.
