By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, July 10, 2025, unanimously backed the quest by the family of slain Two-year old in Delta state to be paid a compensatory package of N200 million by the, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The position of is coming on the heels of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s call on the NDLEA to investigate the actual circumstances surrounding the death of the toddler as well as the life threatening injury to his brother.
The Source reports that two-year old Ivan Omhonrima was on July 13,2023 fatally shot by officers of the NDLEA while he was returning from school.
Stray bullets from the Operatives of the drug control agencies hit the toddler and his brother while the NDLEA personnel were in the thick of an operation in Okpanam Oshimili North Local Council of Delta State.
Since then, despite the wide outrage provoked by the incident, the family has been left in the lurch by the NDLEA.
But at plenary on Thursday, the Senate while considering the petition from the family of the deceased tendered by Senator Neda Imaseun, Chairman, Ethics committee, emphasized the urgent need for justice to be served.
The family, in the petition, appealed to the authorities to do justice to its late son ,who it said was gunned down by operatives of the agency during an operation.
According to the victim’s father ,the unfortunate incident happened at a time his son was set to graduate from the pre-nursery level in school.
The Senators who also observed a minute silence in memory of the victim, condemned the incident.
According to them, such incidents underscore the imperativeness of accountability in the operational ethos of security agencies.
They also stressed the need for the matter to be adequately addressed by the NDLEA leadership.
The Senate in its resolution called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency and importance, assist the NDLEA in paying the bereaved family the compensation package it is demanding for.
To underscore its seriousness, the Senate mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation process of the resolution, and report back to the chamber within the next two months.
The Delta state Governor in a statement issued by his media aide Festus Ahon ,also urged the NDLEA to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the incident to serve as a detergent to others.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA said it remains resolute in its determination to get to the root of the incident.
It reassured the victim’s family of its commitment and the general public of its commitment towards ensuring justice.
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