Audio By Carbonatix
The Nigerian anti-drug agency has apologised to a man in the central state of Plateau after its operatives raided his home by mistake as they targeted a suspected drug dealer.
Armed operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Alyasa’u Idris after breaking into his home in a predawn raid on Thursday.
But it turned out to be a wrong target.
Mr Idris, 42, said he initially thought his house was being attacked by kidnappers because kidnappings for ransom are rampant in the country. He then hid inside the ceiling but was pulled out by the officers who broke into the ceiling, he said.
The incident happened in the town of Yelwan-Shendam.
The officers interrogated the man after taking him away - but they then realised he was not the person they were looking for.
He said upon returning home after his release, he found his 500,000 Naira ($1,145; £1,010) was missing.
Mr Idris, a mattress seller, told the BBC that his entire family was traumatised by the experience and that all his four wives were taken to hospital because of the psychological impact.
A spokesperson for the anti-drug agency Femi Babafemi told the BBC that its officers had immediately apologised to the man after realising it was a case of mistaken identity.
Mr Babafemi said the victim should write a formal complaint to the agency for investigation on the claims of missing money and demand for compensation.
Latest Stories
-
PKO trio eye victories at Odwira Festival
2 hours -
346 Ghana Navy recruits pass out after 26 weeks of intensive training
2 hours -
Newsfile to discuss EOCO-MP arrest, drug trafficking, speech arrests and $235m water debt
2 hours -
JoyNews gets results as listeners raise GH¢40,000 to help 17-year-old student with cerebral palsy attend SHS
3 hours -
Vice President calls for stronger local pharmaceutical production to reduce medicine imports
3 hours -
The brewing tension at KNUST; Beware the Ides of October….
3 hours -
Health Ministry moves to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare
4 hours -
550 pupils in Kintampo South get educational lifeline as ‘Seeds of Hope’ reaches farming communities
4 hours -
Opoku Mensah urges Christian Council, House of Chiefs to speak up on democratic freedoms
4 hours -
Teacher unions’ strike: Minority demands immediate payment of teacher arrears, 20% deprived area allowance
5 hours -
The Accra-Kumasi Expressway: Building it right
5 hours -
Beyond gold exports: Building value and economic resilience from Ghana’s gold
5 hours -
2027 AFCONQ: Ghana under pressure as Gambia beat Somalia 2-1
5 hours -
Eastern NPP Women’s Organiser calls on AG, Police to secure bail for Salomey Baffoe
5 hours -
Poverty, illiteracy driving acceptance of vote-buying among women – Damongo Queen Mother
6 hours