The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a manhunt for an alleged Lagos-based drug dealer, identified as Sowunmi Ayodeji Kayode.
It was learnt that the suspect is now on the run after driving his luxury car to crush an NDLEA officer in his bid to escape arrest when operatives were searching his house last weekend.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, noting that 10.5 kilograms of Loud, was recovered from his apartment.
The statement reads in part, “Anti-narcotics officers of the Agency had on Friday 18th August stormed the residence of the wanted drug dealer located at 2/3 Adetola Ayeni close, Lekki, Lagos for a search and possible arrest following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit drugs in his house.
“Although he was not in the house when operatives got into his compound, he however returned while a search of his apartment was ongoing. 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 compound fracture on his two legs, for which he is currently on hospital admission for treatment.
“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 also approved adequate medical care for the injured officer so that he can get back on his feet as soon as possible,” the statement added.