There was pandemonium in the Mile 3 Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, as hoodlums launched a violent attack on operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a bid to free an arrested suspected drug kingpin.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at Odunezelane Street when NDLEA operatives from the state command arrested a suspect identified as Okpe, who has reportedly been on the agency’s wanted list.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect raised an alarm after his arrest, prompting a group of hoodlums to mobilise and attack the NDLEA officers with machetes, stones, and bottles. In an attempt to defend themselves and disperse the attackers, the officers reportedly fired several warning shots into the air.
Also Read: Police Arrests Officer, University Student Over Cultism, Recovers Firearms, Exhibits
Sources disclosed that some NDLEA personnel sustained injuries during the assault, while one of their operational vehicles was badly damaged. Despite the resistance, the operatives successfully whisked the suspect away from the scene along with a large quantity of drug exhibits.
The chaos forced shop owners on Ikoku and adjoining streets to hurriedly close their businesses as residents and commuters fled for safety.
A source within the NDLEA confirmed the incident, stating, “The suspect has been on our wanted list. Shortly after his arrest, he raised an alarm, and his accomplices began attacking our personnel. Some officers were injured, and our vehicle was damaged. However, the suspect is now in our custody.”
It will be recalled that in April 2023, hoodlums similarly attacked NDLEA operatives in the same area and freed a suspected drug baron identified as Izuu, also known as 50.
