The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it uncovered rifles, live cartridges, and other weapons hidden by unknown persons at the Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra.

Its South-East Zonal Director, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday. The agency’s ongoing enforcement exercise aims to eradicate fake and substandard drugs.

Iluyomade expressed surprise at the discovery, alleging that fake drug dealers hid the rifles intending to attack the enforcement team.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAFDAC has been at the drug sections of Onitsha Bridge Head Market since Feb. 10 as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to strengthen public health.

According to Iluyomade, 50 trailer loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs discovered in the market have been moved to the agency’s laboratories for further tests.

“With the prompt interventions of our security team, we saw and recovered a dagger, machetes, two guns, rifles and live cartridges.

“Every night, we keep arresting people who attempt to break into the shops to move the fake drugs forcefully or do one thing or another in this market.

“They are in custody and volunteering useful information,” he said.

Iluyomade commended leaders of the market for working with the team throughout the operations.

He assured me that some sections of the market would be reopened this week when they begin the next phase of the exercise.