By Frank Ulom
The officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have assualted a journalist, Prince Alobi, for carrying out his duty according to Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Alobi is a broadcast journalist with Radio Nigeria (Canaan City FM 99.5) serving in Calabar, Cross River State.
The NDLEA officials also allegedly smashed his medicated eye glasses as well as his two phones, destroying them beyond repair.
The incident happened on Monday, October 25, 2026, at about 3pm, at Parliamentary Extension by Lemna Road, near Northwest Filling Station, Calabar.
In a chat with our Reporter, Alobi said his life, work are grounded as he is unable to contact or connect with anyone since his two phones were damaged.
Explaining what transpired between him and the NDLEA officials, the journalist said, “I heard gun shots from my office at Lemna at about 3pm yesterday, so I asked what was going on. Stepped out to see for myself as people had gathered.
“I obviously saw it was the NDLEA effecting an arrest, I walked across to see what is happening after telling my station we need to get the news. All I received was a slap from a personnel of the agency that got me blacked out and breaking my glasses to my face.
“Even when I was screaming, ‘I am a PRESS man,’ gun hits followed and I was bundled and thrown to the trunk of their Hilux (truck). They collected my iPhones and smashed them both.”
Alobi said the assault has affected his health as he was unable to sleep at night.
“NDLEA, this is 3am, and I can barely sleep from the vicious beatings and pains inflicted on me yesterday. I have been groaning through the night and did not sleep as most especially my ribs, amongst other parts are in severe pain,” Alobi said, demanding an explanation and justice for doing his job as a Press Man in Calabar.
“What is my crime again as a press man working for Radio Nigeria (FRCN)?” He asked.
Converseer learned that the NDLEA officials were shooting into the air while trying arrest a lady in the area.
When contacted on the phone on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA, Cross River State Command, Sebastian Lebo, said he was going to send our Reporter a press statement issued on that effect.
He added that, “The Command is aware of the journalist’s incident. He’s going to be compensated and his damaged phones will be replaced.”
Watch video of the arrest below:
Yesterday at about 3pm, officials of NDLEA were shooting in the air while effecting an arrest along Parliamentary Extension by Lemna Road in Calabar, CRS. A journalist was allegedly assaulted by some officials while covering the incident.
Full story via: https://t.co/O7CEYdxBTi pic.twitter.com/Wv1gwVjA85
— Daily Lamp (@dailylampnews) October 27, 2026
