UPDATE ON: Delta Police Arrest 29 Persons With 27 Bags of Cannabis

...COMMUNITY THREATENS COURT ACTION OVER INVASION.

Asaba Feb 04, (THEWILL) - The quiet community of Abbi, Ndokwa-West Area of Delta State was thrown into pandemonium when officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conjunction with soldiers and policemen allegedly invaded the community.

The security men numbering over 100 were said to be searching for cannabis growers and dealers.

The community has however threatened to go to court to seek redress. When the THEWILL visited the area, victims of the invasion had relocated to neighbouring villages.

A victim, Mr. Lucky Ossai, whose building was set ablaze at Ogbeti Street said the combined uniform men, fully armed, came with 15 vehicles and headed to Udo-Ata area of the community only to come back to loot and destroy properties ranging from refrigerators, freezers, pumping machines and electronics, before setting his house ablaze.

In a chat with the paper, Sunday Adelike claimed that the security men broke into his wife’s store destroying her deep freezer, stole her money, and ate her dried fish before consuming all her drinks.

Similarly, Olile Williams, a teacher who resides in Ejakita Street lamented that his people were highly disillusioned, victimized and maltreated without committing any offence.

He said the troops who invaded the town came as early as 6 a.m. catching the people unawares, singing and jubilating as if they were at war with the people.

Narrating his agony, Mr. Okolo Sunday, an indigene regretted that the injury meted out on the people would take a long time to heal, saying, "With the destruction of properties and fear instituted in the community, hunger, starvation and disorderliness is imminent in the community."

On the dreadful experience, Barrister Joseph Esiobi, legal adviser to the victims and the community, condemned the military mobilization, saying, such action is unacceptable and illegal even as he threatened to go to court to seek redress.

It will be recalled that a combined team of the police, army, NDLEA and SSS smashed a gang of 29 syndicates who specialized in the cultivation and sale of substances suspected to be cannabis, locally called Indian hemp.

The suspects were arrested at Umunchi-Nta, in Ndokwa East local government area of Delta State.

While parading the suspects before newsmen, the state police public relations officer, ASP Charles Muka told journalist that acting on a tip off, a combined team of police and NDLEA stormed the hide out and arrested the suspects. Muka said, nine locally made guns, 80 live carriages and other dangerous weapons were recovered in the raid.