November 04, (THEWILL) — Armed thugs on Thursday, October 30, 2025, attacked officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) during an enforcement raid at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing the assault as a deliberate attempt to obstruct the agency’s crackdown on counterfeit and unwholesome products.
According to Adeyeye, the hoodlums, armed with dangerous weapons, stormed the operation site, vandalised official vehicles, and disrupted the enforcement exercise as officers moved to seize fake and unsafe goods circulating in the market.
She explained that the operation, which initially proceeded without incident, turned violent when the attackers began searching for the leader of the enforcement team before launching a coordinated assault.
The raid was led by the Director of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E), who also serves as the Chairman of the Federal Task Force.
Adeyeye said intelligence reports indicated that the violence was premeditated and targeted at harming senior NAFDAC officials.
Before the assault, the market’s Chief Security Officer allegedly ordered cluster leaders to lock the gates, trapping the NAFDAC team inside the premises and restricting their movement as the attack unfolded.
By the time the violence erupted, several cartons of counterfeit, banned, and unsafe products had already been confiscated by the agency under the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Act.
Adeyeye commended police and military operatives who responded swiftly to the scene, noting that their professionalism and restraint ensured that no NAFDAC personnel sustained physical injuries despite the violent confrontation.
Reaffirming the agency’s resolve, Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC would not succumb to threats or intimidation in its mission to protect public health.
“NAFDAC will not be intimidated or deterred from fulfilling its mandate of safeguarding the health of the nation,” she vowed, adding that all perpetrators and their collaborators would be identified and prosecuted.
The agency appealed to market leaders, traders, and members of the public to support its regulatory enforcement efforts and avoid obstructing operations aimed at protecting consumers.
Security agencies have since launched an investigation to uncover those behind the attack, while NAFDAC pledged to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations nationwide despite ongoing threats.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
