The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has launched a manhunt for Sowunmi Ayodeji Kayode, a suspected drug dealer.

Kayode reportedly crushed an NDLEA operative while evading arrest in the Lekki area of Lagos.

In a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s media director on Wednesday, the agency said Kayode who is now at large, knocked down the agency’s operative during a search of his house on August 18, 2023.

Babafemi said the NDLEA recovered 10.5kg of ‘loud’ weed in Kayode’s apartment.

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“Anti-narcotics officers of the agency had on Friday 18th August stormed the residence of the wanted drug dealer located at 2/3 Adetola Ayeni close, Lekki, Lagos for a search and possible arrest following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit drugs in his house,” the statement reads.

“Although he was not in the house when operatives got into his compound, he however returned while a search of his apartment was ongoing.

“In a dramatic twist, as soon as he drove into the premises and sighted NDLEA officers, he engaged his car in reverse gear, knocked down one of the officers, pulled down his gate before plunging the vehicle into the fence of the opposite compound.

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“The force of his car’s speed also pulled down the concrete wall of his neighbours compound and from there he dived out of the vehicle to escape.

“A thorough search of his apartment however led to the recovery of 10.5 kilograms of Loud, while the operative knocked down suffered multiple injuries all over his body and compound fracture on his two legs, for which he is currently on hospital admission for treatment.”

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, has ordered the deployment of appropriate operational assets “to smoke out the wanted suspect from his hiding”. 

THE CABLE