Violence erupts as NAFDAC officials confront armed resistance in Lagos raid
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has condemned a violent attack on its personnel during an enforcement operation at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos State.
In a statement on Friday, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the incident occurred on Thursday, October 30, during a raid targeting the sale and distribution of counterfeit and unwholesome products.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr Martins Iluyomade, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the operation turned chaotic after some traders allegedly hired armed thugs to obstruct NAFDAC officials.
“The operation commenced peacefully until hired mercenaries, wielding dangerous weapons, invaded the scene. They disrupted our activities and demanded to know the identity of the Federal Task Force director leading the operation,” she said.
According to Adeyeye, several cartons of fake, banned, and substandard products were confiscated before the mob descended on the officials. The seized items were found in violation of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C.34 LFN 2004.
She disclosed that the attackers vandalised about ten operational vehicles belonging to NAFDAC and its security partners, with damages estimated at over N25 billion.
Adeyeye lamented that the latest assault mirrored a similar attack on NAFDAC officers in 2022, which forced one of the affected personnel to resign due to injuries sustained.
“We risk our lives daily to protect the health of Nigerians. Unfortunately, this is part of the danger we face in the course of duty. Anyone dealing in fake products is committing a grave crime, and we will not relent in tackling this menace,” she stated.
The NAFDAC boss said intelligence reports received months earlier had warned of a possible attack linked to previous enforcement operations in the same market.
Despite the violence, Adeyeye confirmed that officers successfully evacuated four truckloads of seized counterfeit goods before the situation escalated. However, several other confiscated items had to be abandoned due to safety concerns.
She commended the Nigerian Police and military personnel for their swift intervention and professionalism, which she said prevented the incident from resulting in casualties.
Reaffirming the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on fake and substandard products, Adeyeye vowed that NAFDAC would not be intimidated by threats or violent resistance.
“We remain resolute in our mission to eliminate counterfeit drugs and unsafe food products from the Nigerian market. No level of intimidation will deter us,” she declared.