There was pandemonium on Friday at the gate of Edo State command of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency as men of the agency engaged an articulated truck in a hot chase after the truck hit a vehicle belonging to one of their colleague.
According to an eye witness account, the truck driver continued his journey towards the ever-busy Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, towards Oka Market despite hitting the NDLEA officer vehicle.
He explained that the officer whose vehicle was hit contacted his colleagues at the gate of the NDLEA, who started firing gunshots in the air to force the driver of the truck to stop.
He said, “The shooting caused commotion, as traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets. Others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.”
An officer of the agency who pleaded anonymity, said, “It was a simple thing; the truck hit our men’s vehicle, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop.
“That is why the men shot into the air to stop him. Even after deflecting about seven tyres, he was still speeding, but we eventually caught him and he was brought back to our office.”
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the commander of the Edo State division of NDLEA explained that the case was a simple one and that the reported shooting wasn’t to cause pandemonium but to stop a recalcitrant and stubborn driver.