Police Ambush Civil Defence Officers, Aid Vandals

The Anti-vandal Team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been attacked by Nigeria Police officers in the early hours of Monday in Niger State, northcentral Nigeria..

It was reported that the policemen deliberately ambushed the men of Anti-vandal Team of NSCDC with the purpose to aid escape of the vandals.

A source at the NSCDC who was at the scene of the incident said: “We got the information that there is likely to be vandalization activities by suspected vandals in the area, and our men swung into action as usual. But on getting close to the area our men were stopped by policemen and told not to enter the bush.”

Witnesses  said the incident happened between midnight and 2 a.m.; and alleged that the suspected vandals had contacted the police officers who then ambushed the NSCDC team.

“Immediately the police got wind of the information, they laid ambush for the Civil Defence Officers and deflated the four tyres of the first vehicle, threateing to open fire on the NSCDC patrol vehicles,” a witness said

“One of the policemen said we (NSCDC) had no right to operate in the area,” the source said.

The NSCDC men explained that it was their duty to protect all government facilities including oil pipelines.

He said the police know full well that both NSCDC and police are supposed to be agents of the Federal Government and to protect infrastructure, not to aid and abet vandals.

 He wondered why police officers take pleasure in always molesting NSCDC officers, saying that such incidents occur regularly.

Efforts to contact Niger State Command PRO of both the police and NSCDC were unsuccessful as at the time of this report.