An officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reportedly drowned while pursuing a suspected drug offender into the Ethiope River at Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday and was captured in a video circulating on social media obtained by The News Chronicle.
According to information accompanying the footage, NDLEA operatives were attempting to arrest suspected drug offenders when one of the suspects allegedly jumped into the river near the Ethiope River Bridge while trying to escape.
The officers reportedly entered the river in pursuit of the suspect. While one of the officers was rescued and taken to hospital, another officer reportedly drowned.
The suspected offenders were also said to have escaped through the river.
The body of the deceased officer was later recovered from the water and handed over to the relevant authorities.
Community sources claimed traditional rites were performed before the remains were released, with items including a goat reportedly provided for the rites.
However, the identities of the officers and suspects, as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident, could not be independently verified.
The NDLEA had also not officially commented on the incident as of press time.
The incident is similar to one reported in August 2016, when an NDLEA officer in Borno State drowned while pursuing a suspected drug baron into the Gwange River in Maiduguri.
The commandant at the time said four officers were involved in the water mishap, with one of them eventually dying after efforts to revive him failed.
