By Oghenekevwe Laba
The Lagos Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Wednesday accused the police of killing two of its personnel attached to its anti-vandal squad.
A statement issued by the corps and in Abuja said that the police ambushed and opened fire on the men while they were returning from a successful anti-vandal operation at Ikorodu in Lagos.
The statement claimed that the incident occurred at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday. It alleged that the vandals arrested by men of NSCDC during the operation “made calls to their police collaborators for support as they could not overwhelm the anti-vandal team of the corps.
“Immediately the police got wind of the information they laid siege for the NSCDC officers and opened fire on the patrol vehicles killing two.
“Others scampered for their lives with gunshot wounds as the vandals were released immediately by the police,” it said.
The statement said that when the patrol team of the corps noticed that it was the police that were firing, they did not return fire.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Police in Lagos, DSP Ngozi Braide, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by telephone that she was not aware of the killing of NSCDC men by the police.
Braide, however, acknowledged that there was crisis in some part of the state on Wednesday morning and declined to speak on the nature of the crisis.
She said that the Commissioner of Police in the state and some security heads were meeting on the crisis and promised to comment on it as soon as possible’.
In a swift reaction, came up with a press statement signed by Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer Ms Braide to put the record straight on what actually transpired at Isawo-Ikorodu at early hours of today 27/3/2013 between the NSCDC and the Police.
According to the statement, “At about 0145hrs of date, there was a distress call from DM security PPMC, Mosimi that they were experiencing drop in pressure on the pipeline. The Unit Commander in charge of Konu immediately pulled out his men on Konu axis under Inspr Sunday Gabriel to proceed to the scene.
“As they were approaching, they heard sound of serious gun firing in their area of pipeline coverage and the Inspr instructed his men to proceed to that direction as it could be the activities of vandals. Upon arrival, they saw a group of Civil Defence Corp Members coming out from the direction where the shooting was earlier heard. The NSCDC men challenged the Policemen who were about four in number on what their mission was in the area; “saying that it was their sole responsibility (Civil Defence) to guide and protect pipelines”.
“At this juncture there was an argument between the NSCDC and the Police and the most senior NSCDC officer DSC Olufemi ordered his men who were about fourteen (14) in number to disarm, arrest and handcuff the Police team leader and three other members of his team. The NSCDC succeeded in disarming the Police team leader Inspr Sunday Gabriel, handcuffed him, collected his service pistol, walkie-talkie, and Police I.D card. As they were about dragging him into one of their standby hilux vehicles, a phone call was put to the Police Unit Commander reporting the situation. The 3 other officers resisted the arrest and this infuriated Civil Defence Officials who started shooting sporadically to intimidate and subdue the Police officers.
“Before the Police Commander could arrive the scene, the NSCDC officials had taken to their heels abandoning the handcuffed and leg chained Police Inspector with one of NSCDC personnel.
“Therefore, it was shocking that at about 0400hrs, the Civil Defence Corp Commander called the Police Commander Mosimi to say that he lost two of his men and their corpses have been deposited at the hospital. Uptil now, the pistol of Inspr Sunday Gabriel who was badly beaten and stabbed by the NSCDC officials including his other accoutrements are still with NSCDC.
“Subsequently, far away in Alausa, Ikeja, at about 0800hrs today, the NSCDC officials abducted and assaulted three Policemen namely: Sgt Charles Igiebor, Cpl Ekun Julius and Cpl Okoro Charles who went for National I.D Card registration exercise. They also started attacking Policemen on sight in other parts of the State.
“The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command immediately went on air to warn Policemen not to engage in any form of confrontation with the NSCDC officials.
“However investigation into the matter has commenced while Lagosians are advised to maintain peace and remain calm, please”.