19/11/2025
*PROF. IHONVBERE MOVES MOTION TO INVESTIGATE ACTIVITIES OF NDLEA IN OKPUJE-IULEHA, OWAN WEST LGA*
Utterly disturbed by the activities of officers of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in their recent fatal onslaught on Okpuje community in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, the Leader, House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere has moved a motion on the floor of the House that the incident be investigated with a view to bringing perpetrators of the alleged unlawful activities to book.
Prof. Ihonvbere moved the motion this Wednesday, 19th November on matter of urgent public importance where he said the harassment, intimidation, destruction of property and sporadic shootings that attended the Monday, 27th October, 2025 incident resulted in the murder of a 16-year-old Emmanuel Monday George, a young school leaver right in the family’s sitting room.
“Several other community members suffered different degrees of bullet wounds either on the legs or have bullets hauled in their stomachs, and are on danger list in Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State. These masked NDLEA operatives, who came at dawn in two army gun trucks and a salon car, left in their trail tears, and agony that the community is yet to recover from.
Let me also add that if these allegations of misconduct are not promptly investigated, it could damage Nigeria’s international reputation in the fight against drug trafficking and human rights protection,” the Iseghede of Owanland told his honourable colleagues.
The House therefore resolved to mandate the Committees on Narcotics, Human Rights, and Public Safety to immediately investigate the alleged unlawful activities of NDLEA officers in Okpuje, even as it directed that findings of the investigation be reported back to the House within a specified time frame for further legislative action.
*Samson Akhanieme, Chief Press Secretary to the Leader, House of Representatives.*
Wednesday, 19th November, 2025.
