The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has lambasted Nigerian activists, Mr. Segun Awonsaya aka Segalink and renowned rapper, Rugged Man, over their twitter posts on its SWAT Team.
The duo has raised alarm over the activities of the unit created by the Drug Law Agency, known as NDLEA SWAT. A viral photo shared on Twitter showed the moment the officers were searching people’s phone during their stop and search operation along Badagry expressway in Lagos State.
The photo which raised so much dust on social media, led Nigerians to called out NDLEA and requesting to known if searching people’s is their style of operation.
In a different twitter post, Segalink called on NDLEA to checkmate the activities of their SWAT Team, he alleged that the Operatives raided hotels, abducts young people for ransom.
“The attention of the authorities is hereby called again to the brigandage & organized crime syndicate at the @ndlea_nigeria opposite Murtala international airport Lagos. They raid hotels, abducting young people for ransom. As we speak they’re demanding N2M per head from captives.”
The attention of the authorities is hereby called again to the brigandage & organized crime syndicate at the @ndlea_nigeria opposite Murtala international airport Lagos. They raid hotels, abducting young people for ransom. As we speak they’re demanding N2M per head from captives.
— SEGA L'éveilleur® (@segalink) December 20, 2020
Rugged Man also raised an alarm while sharing the photos of the NDLEA SWAT Team, in a stop and search operation. According to him, what he didn’t understand is why would the agency who should be checkmating drugs be searching people’s phone.
He wrote; “Dear @PoliceNG @PoliceNG_CRU @ndlea_nigeria what is NDLEA SWAT and why are they on the road with guns searching peoples phone? #WhatisNdleaSwat
Dear @PoliceNG @PoliceNG_CRU @ndlea_nigeria what is NDLEA SWAT and why are they on the road with guns searching peoples phone?#WhatisNdleaSwat
Cc @segalink @NGRSenate @NGRPresident #Nigeria #Dotherightthing #Endimpunity#adoaja #skijumpingfamily #mystylerocksgr pic.twitter.com/6Nt21uruX2
— RUGGEDMAN (@RuggedyBaba) December 20, 2020
However, in a response to the twitter posts, NDLEA in a press statement signed by its Principal Staff Officer on Public Affairs, Jonah Achema, said the posts made by Sega and Rugged Man is fake. The drug agency added that its officers do not engage in such acts raised by the duo in their separate posts.
The statement further stated that the viral Image of its officers searching people’s phone is Photoshop and lack evidence.
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Read the full press statement below;
“The attention of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has been drawn to a mischievous tweet by Sega link and Rugged man accusing the Agency of setting up a new outfit called NDLEA SWAT, which kidnaps targets and conducts search on highways to examine people’s phones.
“These allegations are not only wild but vague, reckless and selfishly motivated, displaying complete ignorance of the Agency’s modus operandi.
“This tweet may not be unconnected with the disruption of the nefarious activities of some criminal elements at the new apartment building around the Tulip Hotel in Amuwo Odofin.
“The activities of these hoodlums had become a source of concern to the law abiding residents of the area based on which a complaint was made to the Agency on how drugs are peddled in the vicinity attracting criminal elements that molest law abiding residents.
“It is pertinent to point out that the scene of the operation was newly constructed apartment block which same individuals have converted to a short stay” lease apartment.
This led to influx of these criminal elements who engage in the illicit traffic and abuse of drugs, prostitution, fraudulent and other criminal activities thereby giving the environment a bad reputation and disturbing
the activities of those involved in legitimate and lawful engagements.“As an Agency of government, NDLEA would be shirking its responsibility if it fails to answer the distress call of the Nigerian public on matters relating to drug law enforcement. It was on this basis that the Agency carried out the raid operation in the environment and made some arrests of persons found in possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances who are currently under investigation.
“The success of this operation has attracted commendation of law abiding residents of the area. The Agency hereby categorically states that as long as these drug peddlers and criminal elements continue to engage in their nefarious activities, the raid operations will be sustained until these hoodlums are dislodged from the environment so that law abiding residents can go about their legitimate endeavours peacefully without any molestation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no amount of cheap black mail will stop the Agency from discharging its mandate to the nation. This notwithstanding, the Agency is as usual conducting its internal investigations to detect and punish any unprofessional conduct
“On the issue of the NDLEA SWAT, this is an elite tactical team of the Agency set up many years ago and specially trained for very sensitive, volatile and high risk operations.
“They are not engaged in routine operational activities of the Agency. The team is not ordinarily visible and could not have been involved in any highway patrol to extort money from any Nigerian.
“The Agency makes bold to say that it is one law enforcement agency that the general public will always attest to their professionalism whenever they are on the high way on patrol.
“The Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd.) therefore challenges any person who sees any member of the SWAT Team at the highway or indeed any officer of the Agency involved in any act of extortion to call the Agency’s toll free line and report the matter
“There is therefore no doubt that the pictures being bandied of the Agency officers examining phones is purely photo shop as the Agency does not engage in manual examination of handsets even when it is done in the Agency’s office during investigation.
“This is because such manual examination is counter productive as it will not generate anything of evidential value. The Agency has therefore acquired technology it deploys for such exercises to achieve desired objectives of investigation
“NDLEA hereby assures the public that it remains a highly professional and dedicated Agency committed to discharging its mandate and responsibilities to Nigerians no matter whose ox is gored.
