By Sunny A. David, Awka

An Anambra State trader, Mrs. Eberechukwu Okoye, is demanding N22 million in compensation from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the alleged looting of her shop during a recent enforcement operation.

Her lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, issued a pre-action notice stating that NAFDAC officials and security personnel vandalized Mrs. Okoye’s shop at Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market in Onitsha, stealing clothing, shoes, and other items unrelated to drugs.

The incident occurred during a two-month NAFDAC operation targeting unregistered and counterfeit drugs.

Mrs. Okoye claims her shop, which sells non-drug items, was looted without warning or justification, and that accompanying security personnel were allowed to act with impunity.

Video evidence allegedly supports her claim that no drugs were found in her shop.

Barrister Ejiofor described the incident as “mindboggling criminality,” highlighting its devastating impact on Mrs. Okoye’s livelihood during Nigeria’s economic downturn.

He questioned the legality of the actions, stating there’s no legal basis for security operatives to break into and loot citizens’ shops.

Unless NAFDAC meets the compensation demand within one month, Ejiofor has threatened legal action at the Federal High Court in Awka. NAFDAC has yet to respond to the allegations.