The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, or NDLEA, has denied the validity of a viral video purporting to show its agents driving a minibus through the state of Lagos.

The organization said that the popular video showed several people riding in a minibus while wearing red jackets similar to those worn by agency officials and men for operational purposes was an old skit that it had previously denied being part of.
Femi Babafemi, director of media and advocacy, stated that the individuals in the video are not NDLEA officers.

“The Agency had in a well-publicized statement released on Saturday 21st May 2022 stated that it had established, following series of public enquiries, that the video with screenshot pictures attached to the statement is a skit produced by one Mathew C Eze who lives in the Lekki area of Lagos”, he said.

“A year after, the video has returned to the social media space, a development that has led to several enquiries from concerned members of the public on the authenticity of the content of the video.

“We will like to reiterate again that the confusion the controversial video has created in the minds of members of the public underscores the need for some social media content producers to show restraint, responsibility and decorum in how they misuse paraphernalia of law enforcement officers to avoid misconceptions and insinuations.

“The Agency will also like to remind those fond of this kind of indiscretion, especially the misuse of its official jackets to mislead and create false impressions, that such has consequences.”