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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 at Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, was captured in a video circulating on social media and seen by Vanguard.

According to information accompanying the video, the NDLEA officers were reportedly attempting to apprehend suspected drug offenders when one of the suspects, who was allegedly being taken towards the Ethiope River Bridge, jumped into the river in an attempt to escape.

The officers reportedly followed the suspect into the river in an effort to apprehend him.

While one of the officers was reportedly rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention, another was said to have drowned in the process.

The suspected offenders were also said to have escaped through the river.

The body of the officer reportedly drowned was later recovered from the river.

Community sources said traditional rites associated with drowning incidents in the area were performed before the remains were released to the relevant authorities.

The sources claimed that items, including a goat, were provided as part of the traditional rites.

However, Vanguard could not independently verify the identities of the officers involved, the suspected offenders or the circumstances surrounding the alleged pursuit.

The NDLEA was yet to officially comment on the incident as of press time.

A similar incident happened in August 2016, when an NDLEA officer attached to Borno State Command drowned while chasing a notorious drug baron.

Ona Ogilegwu, NDLEA Commandant in Borno, told newsmen that the incident occurred during an operation in the Gwange area of Maiduguri.

He said, “In an effort to arrest a notorious baron, four men of the command were involved in a water mishap after diving into the Gwange River in pursuit of the suspect.”

The narcotic boss said that the NDLEA officials were involved in the mishap because they could not swim.

He said, “The sad incident led to the death of one of our officers in the hospital after a failed attempt to revive him.

“The survivors were discharged from hospital.”

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A 400-level student of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, Ismail Magaji, has reportedly been killed by a stray bullet during a military operation in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Magaji, a student of the Department of Public Administration, was reportedly caught in the gunfire following a communal dispute in the Wawa community under the Borgu Kingdom on Thursday.

According to reports, the military personnel were operating in the area following a land dispute that had allegedly triggered sporadic shooting.

The circumstances surrounding the student’s death could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

Mr Magaji was said to have been preparing for his final examinations before the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on an indefinite strike.

According to reports, the student had remained at home for about two weeks in anticipation that the industrial action would be called off before eventually travelling to his hometown.

He was reportedly expected to commence his final examinations around 5 September.

A course mate, Yahaya Lawal, described the deceased as a promising student whose life was cut short at a time when he was preparing to complete his university education.

“Ismail Ishaq Magaji, described as a promising 400-level student of Public Administration at IBBU, should have been in the classroom preparing for his examinations and future in order to contribute to the development of society,” Mr Lawal said.

He described the deceased as gentle, calm, accommodating and friendly.

“We will surely miss his gentility, calmness, gravity and simplicity. He was a very friendly person, very accommodating. It is very unfortunate and worrisome that he was killed by those paid to protect us in society,” he said.

Mr Lawal prayed for the repose of his soul and strength for his family.

“May Allah forgive Ismail Ishaq Magaji all his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give his family the strength to bear this unbearable loss,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the Niger State Government, the Nigerian Army, or other relevant security authorities concerning the reported death.

The circumstances of the shooting, including the identity of the personnel involved and whether an investigation has commenced, also remain unclear.

The incident has sparked concern among students and residents over the safety of civilians caught in security operations and communal conflicts.

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The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe, popularly known as BB, has reportedly threatened to demolish a hotel allegedly used by members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for a political meeting.

The allegation is contained in a leaked voice recording circulating in the state. In the recording, a voice purportedly belonging to the council chairman warned against allowing members of the opposition party to hold further meetings at the hotel.

According to the recording, the speaker threatened that buildings and businesses belonging to the hotel owner could be demolished if the NDC held another meeting at the facility.

The voice is heard saying, “The government will bring down any building or business of any person that attends any NDC meeting in his hotel.”

He also claimed that the government owned the land on which the hotel was built.

When asked whether the statement amounted to a threat from the government, the voice allegedly responded, “Yes, it’s a threat from the government and me.”

The allegation against the Esan West council chairman has raised fresh concerns among political stakeholders in Edo State about the treatment of opposition groups and their supporters ahead of future political activities.

Attempts to obtain comments from the council chairman, Ebhodaghe, were unsuccessful. He did not respond to messages seeking clarification, while calls to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

The allegation comes amid wider concerns over disruptions to NDC activities in some parts of the country.

SaharaReporters recently reported that the NDC identified eight of its members who it said sustained gunshot injuries during an alleged attack on its monthly ward meeting in Obuofia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The victims identified by the party were Onovo Donald Ekene, Ngene Godwin Madueke, Ogbodo Gloria, Onovo Victor, Maduabuchi Ugwu, Nnaemeka Nelson, Chinonso Nwagbara and Obinna Daniel Owo.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon at Ihuani Awkunanaw in Obuofia, the ancestral home of the Awkunanaw people and hometown of the NDC governorship candidate in the state, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa.

In a statement issued by Ohaa’s Media Aid, Hon. Sampson Ukwu, the campaign said NDC members had gathered for the party’s statewide monthly ward meeting when armed hoodlums allegedly invaded the venue and opened fire.

“The following 8 persons sustained gunshot injuries,” the statement said before listing the alleged victims.

The party also alleged that canopies, chairs and other political materials were vandalised and destroyed during the attack.

“This is a clear act of political thuggery and an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition through violence,” the statement said.

The NDC further alleged that the incident was part of a pattern of disruptions targeting its political activities in Nkanu West, claiming that similar incidents had previously occurred in Akpugo and Obe wards.