A yet-to-be-identified officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reportedly drowned while pursuing a suspected drug offender into the Ethiope River in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday and was captured in a video currently circulating on social media.
According to information accompanying the video, NDLEA operatives were attempting to arrest suspected drug offenders when one of the suspects, who was allegedly being taken towards the Ethiope River Bridge, reportedly jumped into the river in an attempt to escape.
The officers were said to have followed the suspect into the river in an effort to apprehend him.
However, the operation reportedly ended in tragedy as one of the officers drowned, while another officer was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Community sources said traditional rites associated with drowning incidents in the area were subsequently performed before the deceased officer’s remains were released to the relevant authorities.
The sources claimed that items, including a goat, were provided as part of the traditional rites.
However, the identities of the officers involved, the suspected offenders and the precise circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
The NDLEA had yet to officially comment on the reported incident as of press time.
The development is reminiscent of a similar incident in August 2016, when an NDLEA officer attached to the Borno State Command drowned while pursuing a suspected drug baron.
The then NDLEA Commandant in Borno State, Ona Ogilegwu, said the incident occurred during an operation in the Gwange area of Maiduguri.
According to him, four officers were involved in a water mishap after diving into the Gwange River in pursuit of the suspect.
He said the officers got into difficulty because they could not swim, resulting in the death of one of them in hospital after attempts to revive him failed.
The surviving officers were subsequently discharged from hospital.
