Police
authorities yesterday admitted that its men killed two officials of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos.
A statement signed by Lagos State Police Command spokesperson,
Ngozi C. Braide, explained that officials of the NSCDC assaulted and abducted
some policemen on duty.
According to the statement, “the Lagos State Command wishes to
use this medium to put the record straight on what actually transpired at
Isawo-Ikorodu at early hours of yesterday between the NSCDC and the Police.
“At about 0145hrs, 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 Inspector 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 Inspector 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 Corps 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 guard 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 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
Inspector, 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 three 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 arrived the scene, the NSCDC
officials had taken to their heels abandoning the handcuffed and leg chained
Police Inspector with one of the NSCDC personnel.
“Therefore, it was shocking that at about 0400hrs, the Civil
Defence Corps Commander called the Police Commander Mosimi, to say that he lost
two of his men and their corpses have been deposited at the hospital.
Up till now, the pistol of Inspector 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.”
But eyewitness accounts said that the incident actually happened
between midnight and 3 am when the civil defence officers were returning from a
site of arrest of some pipeline vandals.
According to the witness, the arrested vandals contacted some
police officers who ambushed the civil defence officers and their prisoners.
“Immediately the police got wind of the information, they laid
siege for the cvil defense men and open fire on the NSCDC patrol vehicles
killing two while others scampered for their dear lives with gunshot wounds as
the vandals were released immediately by the police.”
Two officers, identified as Gabriel Adaji and Innocent Akegbe,
were killed while five others received severe gunshot wounds, according to a
source at the NSCDC.
According to the source, an argument had ensued between the
returning NSCDC officers and the team of police officers at a checkpoint along
the Ikorodu expressway.
“One of the policemen said we (NSCDC) had no right to operate in
the area.
“The NSCDC men explained that it was their duty to protect all
government facilities including oil pipelines,” the source said, adding that
after the argument, the civil defence officers left the police checkpoint only
to encounter a hail of bullets from another team of police officers, the NSCDC.
“The policemen opened fire on our men, killing two and injuring
five. The policemen then fled.”
Source: Peoples Daily
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