TELL Magazine

• …We are investigating the incident – NDLEA

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has called for a thorough investigation into circumstances leading to the death of a two years old boy, Ivan Onose Omorhiakogben Asaba by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA in order to bring the culprits to justice and forestall future occurrences.

The toddler, a pre-nursery pupil had just returned from school on Thursday and was in his father’s shop in the Okpamam area of the state capital with his younger sibling when they were hit by stray bullets allegedly fired by NDLEA operatives who were chasing some drug suspects. Ivan’s younger was hit in the eye but survived the gunshot.

Governor Oborevwori, who in a statement on Saturday commiserated with the deceased’s family, described the incident as “tragic, painful and grievous”, stressing that it was regrettable and avoidable if the officers had operated based on their rules of engagement

In the statement by his chief press Secretary, Festus Ahon, the governor said:

“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta, I commiserate with the family of Fidelis Omorhiakogbe on the tragic death of their two-year-old son, Ivan, and injury to his younger sibling, Eromonsele.

“This incident is tragic, painful, and grievous because of the loss of a child and injury to his younger sibling.

“I condemn this unfortunate incident because no matter the provocation, armed security men must operate within the ambits of standard procedure as enshrined in their rules of engagement.

“Any action taken outside these international best practices could be catastrophic as in this case.

“I, therefore, call on the NDLEA and Police authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident and bring all the culprits to book”.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the NDLEA have taken responsibility for the killing. In a statement on Saturday, Femi Babafemi, director, of media and advocacy of the agency, said they have reached out to the grieving family.

He said that the NDLEA chairman, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa has constituted an investigation panel consisting of top officials from the national headquarters, after receiving initial briefings on the incident from the Delta command.

Babafemi said that the chairman directed the investigators to immediately

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