A man believed to be an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has drowned on Saturday while pursuing a suspected drug offender into the Ethiope River in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to reports, the yet-to-be-identified officer was part of an operation to apprehend suspected drug offenders when one of the suspects, who was being taken towards the Ethiope River Bridge, jumped into the river in an attempt to escape.
Officers followed the suspect into the water. One officer was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention, while the other drowned. The suspects were also said to have escaped through the river.
The body of the drowned officer was later recovered from the river. Community sources said traditional rites associated with drowning incidents in the area were performed before the remains were released to the relevant authorities.
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