An officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Delta State drowned in the River Ethiope while chasing a suspected drug offender who had escaped from custody. The incident occurred at the weekend in Obiaruku community, within Ukwuani Local Government Area, when operatives transporting the suspect near the River Ethiope Bridge lost control of him. The suspect jumped into the river to evade arrest, prompting several NDLEA officers to enter the water in pursuit. During the operation, one officer drowned, another was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, while the suspect managed to escape.
The body of the deceased officer was later recovered from the river. A local source said the community performed traditional rites, including the provision of a goat and other items, before releasing the corpse to the NDLEA, as required by custom for drowning victims in Obiaruku. The same source expressed surprise, noting the river was not deep enough to cause drowning. An NDLEA official confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the officer's death and the sequence of events during the operation.
The Delta State Commander, Halilu Hamidi, referred media inquiries to the agency's national spokesperson, Femi Babafemi. No official statement had been issued by the agency's headquarters at the time of reporting.
An NDLEA officer died chasing a suspect in a river shallow enough that locals find the drowning hard to believe. The agency has not explained why the pursuit went into the water or how safety protocols were applied. The investigation may clarify whether operational procedures were followed or if assumptions about the river's danger were fatally wrong.
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