NAFDAC attacked in Kogi

22.05.2008

SIX staff of the Lokoja National Agency for Food, Drug Adminis-tration and Control (NAFDAC), had been attacked at Ejule village, Ofu Local Government area of the state.

Mr. John Okwori, NAFDAC's head in the state, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lokoja. “The incident happened at about 10.00 a.m., when a team of five NAFDAC staff went to Ejule, to seal off an illegal factory dealing in production of illicit drinks.

“On getting to the village, the team embarked on raid, having identified itself to the villagers. “The team discovered 400 drums of illicit drinks already produced in the factory,” he said. According to him after sealing off the factory, the team raided the operators of patient medicine shops dealing in adulterated drugs.

“It was at this stage that we were attacked by some armed youth, who detested our lawful action. “During the attack, the youth, overpowered three policemen detailed to guard the team and forced other members to flee for safety,” he added.
According to him, he escaped to a police station in the village, and later sneaked out through the assistance of an Okada rider, to the outskirt of the village.

He then located the team and returned to Lokoja. Owokori described the experience as terrible, thanking God for delivering him and his team from the hands of the attackers, whom he said "wanted to kill us.”