NDLEA foils hoodlums’ attempt to free arrested drug kingpin in Rivers
Suspected hoodlums have attacked operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a bid to free an arrested drug kingpin in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Odunze Lane in the Mile 3 Diobu area of Port Harcourt.
The attackers, reportedly armed with machetes and bottles, targeted NDLEA officers who had just apprehended a suspect identified as Okpe.
The situation turned chaotic as the hoodlums threw stones and bottles at the officers, prompting them to fire shots into the air in self-defence.
According to the Guardian, some NDLEA personnel were injured in the process, and one of their vehicles was damaged.
However, sources said that despite the attack, the determined officers managed to take the suspect away to safety, just as business owners in the area hurriedly closed their shops, and passengers and commuters scrambled for safety as the mayhem unfolded.
“The suspect has been on the wanted list of the command. Shortly after his arrest, he raised an alarm, which attracted his colleagues, who started throwing bottles and other objects at our personnel. Some of our personnel were injured, and our vehicle was damaged,” the source said.
“The suspect was arrested with a large exhibit, and he is in our custody.”
The NDLEA is expected to issue an official statement on the incident, according to sources within the agency who confirmed the attack
