However, the operation turned tragic as an NDLEA agent, Sadiq Mujahid, lost his life after sustaining severe head injuries during a violent attack on the officers by suspected hoodlums.
The raid, which took place on Friday, February 6, 2026, targeted the Ama Hausa area of Bonny Island, a location long identified by security agencies as a hub for drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
The agency said illicit drugs recovered during the operation included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, skunk, and tramadol.
The NDLEA said the attack occurred when one of the suspects, identified as Genesis George Benson, allegedly mobilised armed hoodlums in an attempt to resist arrest and facilitate his escape.
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During the ensuing confrontation, Mujahid sustained critical head injuries. He was immediately rushed to the Bonny Island General Hospital for emergency treatment, but was later pronounced dead.
Despite the violent resistance, NDLEA operatives reportedly subdued the attackers and successfully arrested all six targets of the operation, including Benson, who was described as the leader of the gang and allegedly responsible for the fatal attack on the officer.
Other suspects arrested were identified as ThankGod Okon, Shamsudden Isah, Muhammed Musa, Adamu Muhammed, and Muhammed Yusuf.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (rtd), commended the operatives for their bravery and resilience in the face of the deadly attack.
“I salute the gallantry of our men who refused to be intimidated by these criminal elements. Even after the cowardly attack on Mujahid, our operatives ensured that the assailants were overpowered and arrested, and their illicit substances confiscated. Their sacrifice will not be in vain,” Marwa said.
While mourning the fallen officer, the NDLEA boss described Mujahid as a disciplined and courageous operative who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues, and the Rivers State Command,” he added.
Marwa also warned that attacks on NDLEA agents would be met with severe consequences, stressing that the agency remained resolute in its fight against drug trafficking across the country.
“Any attack on our officers is an attack on the state, and it will not go without dire consequences.
“We remain undeterred in our mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs, and we will continue to take the fight to the enclaves of these merchants of death,” he said.
