…… Urged NDLEA for medical responsibilities for the surviving child
Abuja – The Nigerian Senate has recommended a N200 million compensation for the family of a two-year-old boy tragically killed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during a botched raid in Asaba, Delta State.
The lawmakers also directed the agency to cover the full medical costs of the child’s sibling, who sustained life-altering injuries during the incident.
The resolution followed a report presented by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), after deliberating on a petition filed by the bereaved family.
The fatal raid occurred two years ago in Asaba when NDLEA operatives stormed a residential compound in pursuit of suspected drug traffickers. In the chaos that ensued, a bullet reportedly struck and killed the toddler inside his home, while his sibling sustained serious eye injuries that now threaten permanent blindness.
NDLEA, in its appearance before the Senate Committee, admitted culpability in the death and injuries, initially offering N25 million as compensation. However, the committee found the offer grossly inadequate.
“In clear conscience, we could not accept what they were offering,” Senator Imasuen told journalists. “Losing a child and possibly another to permanent disability deserves more than tokenism. We demanded a figure that reflects the gravity of the loss.”
Despite repeated appeals, NDLEA refused to raise its compensation offer, prompting the Senate Committee to recommend N200 million in damages and assume all medical responsibilities for the surviving child.
While the Senate adopted the committee’s recommendations, it acknowledged the constitutional limits on its enforcement powers. Senator Imasuen appealed to President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly to ensure justice is delivered.
“Our rules only empower us to recommend, not compel,” he explained. “We’re calling on the President, himself a father and grandfather, to intervene in this matter of conscience.”
He added that while no monetary sum could restore the child’s life or reverse the trauma, meaningful restitution is necessary for the family’s healing process.
In a separate case also handled by the Ethics Committee, the Senate reviewed a petition concerning a 31-year-old employee of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) who was dismissed after unauthorized access was granted to a restricted examination room. The staff, who had served WAEC for over three decades, admitted handing over a key in her absence.
Though the committee recommended she be allowed to resign honourably due to her long service, the full Senate rejected the plea, citing the critical nature of examination integrity.
“We wanted to apply a human face,” Imasuen said, “but the Senate prioritized the sanctity of Nigeria’s examination system.”
READ ALSO: Constitutional Review: State Police, Women Inclusion Top Demands in Lafia
VC seeks adequate funding, equipping of teaching hospitals nationwide
Senator Imasuen reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to accountability and justice, noting that the Compliance Committee will continue to pressure the executive for full implementation of the compensation and medical support directives.
“As a parent, I cannot imagine the pain of losing a two-year-old in his own home,” Imasuen said. “As lawmakers, we must ensure such tragedies are met with action, not silence.”
