Member representing Aba North/ Aba South federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossy Prestige, has vowed to ensure that officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, involved in the killing of three traders of the Ariaria International Market, would be found out and prosecuted.
Recall that men of the NDLEA, stormed Ariaria market to arrest a drug baron in the area, but the operation turned tragic when stray bullets killed traders while others sustained bullet injuries.
Prestige who stated this while visiting the injured traders at the Horstman Orthopedic and Holy Wound Christian hospitals in Aba, lamented that he could not understand how NDLEA officials could enter the market and open fire on defenceless traders.
“I m promising you to ensure that the NDLEA officials involved in the killing of traders at the Ariaria International market would be found and made to face the law. This is very sad, I cancelled the official function I was billed to attend in Kano and came down to Aba this morning (Saturday) to get a first hand information and what I have seen is to say the least, horrible. We are not in a war situation; why will law enforcement agencies come into the market with guns and start shooting indiscriminately at defenceless civilians? I am taking this matter up and all those involved in this dastardly act will not go scot free. They must be brought to justice and NDLEA made to compensate the families of the dead traders and the injured ones.”
He directed the management of the two hospitals to ensure the injured get the best medical attention and sent the cost to him.
Receiving the lawmaker at the Holy Wound Christian hospital, Dr. Uchenna Anyanwu, said most of the traders had their legs shattered by bullets, stressing that some of them may be amputated if it becomes necessary.
Anyanwu added that some of the traders with bullet woulds could still die because hospitals were not admitting them as a result of the order which forbid them from treating patients with bullet wounds without clearance from the police.
Prestige commended the doctors for their efforts in saving the lives of the wounded traders.
