NAFDAC ‘uncovers weapons’ at Onitsha market, says fake drug dealers planned to attack operatives

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says its operatives have uncovered rifles, live cartridges, and other weapons hidden by unknown persons at the Ogbo Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra.

While addressing journalists on Wednesday, Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s south-east zonal director, said NAFDAC has been carrying out a crackdown on the drug sections of the market since February 10 as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to strengthen public health.

Iluyomade expressed surprise at the discovery, adding that fake drug dealers hid the rifles, intending to attack the agency’s enforcement team.

He said 50 trailer loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs were also discovered in the market and moved to the agency’s laboratories for further tests.

“With the prompt interventions of our security team, we saw and recovered a dagger, machetes, two guns, rifles, and live cartridges,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“Every night, we keep arresting people who attempt to forcefully break into the shops to move the fake drugs or do one thing or another in this market.

“They are in custody and volunteering useful information.”

Iluyomade commended leaders of the market for working with the team throughout the period of the operations.

He assured that some sections of the market would be reopened this week while they begin the next phase of the exercise.