Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, arrested a skit maker, Sunday Joshua, popularly known on social media as De-General, following the raid of a notorious drug joint at Orchid Estate, Lekki area of Lagos State.
However, his arrest sparked controversy among his friends, who claimed that the comedian was set up and his phone damaged during his confrontation with operatives.
But, spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, yesterday, said narcotics officers, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the drug joint in the estate, where three suspects were arrested with illicit drugs including 200 sachets of 225mg Tramadol and 1.5kilograms of cannabis Sativa.
He said in the course of the operation, some people, including the suspected dealer, ran away with bags suspected to contain exhibits.
Babafemi stressed that a trail showed they ran into a house located at 2B Saula Akinlolu way, Orchid Estate, which is the residence of the 22-year-old Sunday Joshua (aka De General).
“The young men started to make noise to prevent a search. The operatives introduced themselves as officers of NDLEA and submitted themselves for search before entry. This was done and a search was conducted.
“The search led to the recovery of drug exhibits including cannabis Sativa; Tramadol 225mg, and some paraphernalia for drug use. This was after the suspect had requested to record on video the search, which the officers out of a sense of civility allowed.
“The video trending on social media was the moment the suspect and his friends decided to disrupt the bid to conduct a search of the house.
“In his confessional statement in custody, the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs recovered from his house,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the comedian was seen live on Instagram before his arrest, confronting NDLEA officers at his residence.
His friend Amodu Ayodeji Peter, known as @Ayothecreator said that the comedian was set up as he does not do drugs.
Peter’s post on Instagram read: “NDLEA you know where the real drug barons are in Lagos, but yet you come into Degeneral house, assault and arrest him. Have you ever seen him promote drugs in his content, he does not do drugs and whoever is responsible for this, God is watching.
“I have not slept since 2:00 a.m., they wouldn’t let us in their station, please help us noble Nigerians, he is at NDLEA office in Festac
“It is heartbreaking to see him in cuffs and beaten like a criminal. No Nigerian should unlawfully go through this.”
Reacting, social activist Debo Adedayo, known by his stage name Mr. Macaroni, said: “We don’t even see most of the oppression and brutality that Nigerian youths suffer.
“We see some only because the person is popular or has enough courage to make a video. A lot of Nigerians have suffered greatly for nothing.
Nigerian Police go do their own, EFCC go do, NDLEA go do their own, small-time now, e fit be Traffic warden wey go come break our door for the middle of the night to oppress and harass us.”
