In a statement on Friday, the agency’s Director-General,
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that the incident occurred on Thursday,
October 30, during a raid targeting the sale and distribution of counterfeit
and unwholesome products.

Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr Martins Iluyomade, the
agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, said the operation turned
chaotic after some traders allegedly hired armed thugs to obstruct NAFDAC
officials.

“The operation commenced peacefully until hired mercenaries,
wielding dangerous weapons, invaded the scene. They disrupted our activities
and demanded to know the identity of the Federal Task Force director leading
the operation,” she said.

According to Adeyeye, several cartons of fake, banned, and
substandard products were confiscated before the mob descended on the
officials. The seized items were found in violation of the Counterfeit and Fake
Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C.34
LFN 2004.

She disclosed that the attackers vandalised about ten
operational vehicles belonging to NAFDAC and its security partners, with
damages estimated at over N25 billion.

Adeyeye lamented that the latest assault mirrored a similar
attack on NAFDAC officers in 2022, which forced one of the affected personnel
to resign due to injuries sustained.

“We risk our lives daily to protect the health of Nigerians.
Unfortunately, this is part of the danger we face in the course of duty. Anyone
dealing in fake products is committing a grave crime, and we will not relent in
tackling this menace,” she stated.

The NAFDAC boss said intelligence reports received months
earlier had warned of a possible attack linked to previous enforcement
operations in the same market.

Despite the violence, Adeyeye confirmed that officers
successfully evacuated four truckloads of seized counterfeit goods before the
situation escalated. However, several other confiscated items had to be
abandoned due to safety concerns.

She commended the Nigerian Police and military personnel for
their swift intervention and professionalism, which she said prevented the
incident from resulting in casualties.

Reaffirming the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on fake and
substandard products, Adeyeye vowed that NAFDAC would not be intimidated by
threats or violent resistance.

“We remain resolute in our mission to eliminate counterfeit
drugs and unsafe food products from the Nigerian market. No level of
intimidation will deter us,” she declared.