The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says five of its officials were injured during an enforcement operation at the Lagos Trade Fair Market.
Its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, told newsmen during a news conference on Saturday in Lagos that 10 operational vehicles worth billions were also destroyed during the attack.
She stated that the attack on NAFDAC officials was premeditated, aimed at harming them in the line of duty on Oct. 30.
Adeyeye, represented by Dr Martins Iluyomade, said the officials narrowly escaped the violent attack thanks to the security and military personnel who were with them during the operation.
She noted that the officials had confiscated four trucks of fake and unwholesome products worth N500 million before the mercenaries wielding dangerous weapons stormed the area with the intent to harm and kill the officials.
According to her, confiscated products violate the provisions in the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap. C.34 LFN 2004.
“As part of our mandate to safeguard public health, some NAFDAC officials visited the Trade Fair Complex, based on credible intelligence regarding the sale and distribution of fake, substandard and unwholesome regulatory products going on in the market.
“The operation led by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement commenced peacefully without any issues till some mercenaries wielding dangerous weapons came to the scene and started fomenting trouble.
“They asked for the identity of the director who was also the Chairman, Federal Task Force around the operation ground and destroyed 20 operational vehicles belonging to NAFDAC and other security agencies worth over N25 billion.
“A reliable intelligence reveals that the attack was pre-planned and also a calculated attempt to assassinate the Director (I&E) with some other NAFDAC staff,” she said.
The D-G, however, clarified that the military and other security agencies were part of the federal task force and were not at the market for any combat as alleged by some individuals on social media.
She commended the Nigeria Police and Military who displayed extreme calm and professionalism during the operation, adding that their efforts helped ensure the safety of NAFDAC officers.
The D-G reaffirmed that the agency is fully alive to its responsibilities of ensuring the safety, wholesomeness and quality of all NAFDAC-regulated products in Nigeria and will not be deterred from its mandate.
Adeyeye assured that all perpetrators will be made to face the full extent of the law.
-NAN
