Following the attack of an investigative journalist, last Friday by hoodlums, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Kogi State command on Tuesday raided the popular Central Hotel, along IBB way in Lokoja, the state capital.
The hotel was said to be harbouring drug addicts and hoodlums who carry out their nefarious activities on innocent indigenes in the area.
Punch reports that the said journalist was attacked by the hoodlums while carrying out an investigative report on activities going on in the hotel.
The journalist was beaten to a coma by the hoodlums accusing him of exposing the Hotel as a den for dealing in dangerous drugs.
He was later rushed to an undisclosed hospital where groups of medical experts made efforts to revive him.
According to a resident in the area identified as Ajogun, he commended the NDLEA and other security agencies for taking this bold step.
He said, “Series of atrocities are being committed in this hotel, but nothing had been done because of the fear of the unknown. We have been living in fear within this area just because of this hotel.
“I must tell you, it takes the grace of God to raise a child in this place. We see different things in this place. Imagine, this place is the hub of Indian hemp distribution and other dangerous drugs. Aside from this, the sex hawkers that our children are seeing on daily basis calls for concerns as it is not the best way to teach a child about the morality of life.
” Last year, security personnel was killed in this central hotel by these bad boys who come here to buy and smoke this Indian hemp and other dangerous drugs. Many lives have been lost.
“It seems the attack on this journalist was a blessing in disguise to liberate us from this evil act perpetrated by these bad boys who are coming to the central hotel to cause havoc in our area. Can you imagine, when it is 8 pm, you can’t walk freely within this area or these bad guys will rob you of all your belongings.
“We can no longer continue like this. The appropriate authority should not open this brothel again to prevent these guys from assembling again for this illicit drug business.”
The Kogi State commander of the NDLEA, Alfred Adewumi, while confirming the raid, said that raids were carried out in and around the area.
“We have had cause on many occasions, especially with the notoriety associated with the area around Central Hotel, Lokoja, for illicit drug dealing, to carry out raid and dislodging of black spots around the place.
“In continuation of our offensive approach to drug control, we are sustaining the raid all over the state.
“What we did around Central Hotel, Lokoja is in conformity with this approach.
“I am not aware that the Central Hotel, Lokoja, is shut down but I am certain that operatives of NDLEA have maintained vigilance around the neighbourhood to ensure illicit drug activities are discouraged,” he said.