Police Kills Two NSCDC Officers, Releases Vandals

In what could be described as a commando attack, The Nigeria Police ambushed and opened fire on men of the anti-vandal squad of the Lagos State Command of NSCDC, killing two men on the spot while others escaped with gunshot wounds in Ikorodu axis of Lagos State.

This incident occurs at about 3am on Wednesday morning while the officers and men of the corps were returning from a successful anti-vandal operation where vandals were arrested along with their exhibits and being transported back to the state headquarters of the Corps. According to an eye witness account, the vandals made calls to their police collaborators for support as they could not overwhelm the anti-vandals team of the Corps.

Immediately the Police got wind of the information laid siege for the Corps 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.

On seeing that it was the police, the men of the corps refused to fire a single shot from their rifles but could only express sock at a sister agency who ordinarily should assist in fighting crime and other criminality are the ones aiding them while the vandals continue to flourish in crime.

It was gathered that the attack happened at about 3am, just as members of Civil Defense were returning from a successful anti-vandals operation, where vandals were arrested along with their exhibits.

The slain officers have been identified as an Assistant Inspector, Gabriel Adaji and Inspector Innocent Akegbe.

Their corpses have been taken to the Military Hospital Mortuary, Yaba.

It was gathered that the arrested vandals were already being taken back to the Lagos State Command of the Civil Defence when all hell broke loose.

A source claimed that the Civil Defence officers were ambushed by policemen working with vandals. The attack came barely minutes after one of the vandals, allegedly made a call.

Another source further said: “Immediately the police got wind of the information, they laid ambush for the Civil Defence officers. As soon as they sighted the men, they immediately opened. The men were overwhelmed by flying bullets. The bullets seemed to be coming from all sides, attacking the patrol vehicle. Many of the officers were hit, but two died instantly. Others, who were injured, ran for their lives. We heard that the vandals were released immediately by the shooters.”

One of the wounded Civil Defence officers explained that they were caught unaware and did not retaliate because the men were in police uniform, thus they knew they were law enforcement officers like them. Little did they know that the policemen came to attack them.

The Civil Defence vehicle, marked CD 15A01, was said to have been riddled with bullets and covered in blood.

Spokesperson of the Lagos Civil Defence Corps, Kehinde Dada said the officers had gone on a raid of vandals in Ikorodu and were returning back when they were ambushed by the police who shot dead two civil defence corps.

She said the attack was sudden and did not give the civil defence officers the chance to defend themselves.

Another civil defence officer alleged that the vandals called the police that their men had been arrested and wanted the police to rescue them, saying that the police stormed the scene and shot at civil defence officers and killed two of them.

The officer said this was not the first time policemen would be attacking civil defence officers.

The Deputy Public Relations Officer (DPRO) of NSCDC, Mr. Shola Odumosu explained that on Wednesday two of their men were killed and five other officers were seriously injured, while carrying out their official duty.

Odumosun stated that the four suspected NNPC Pipeline vandals were released by the police, who escaped with them.

He said: ``While the police escaping with the suspects, a police identity card of one Inspector Sunday Gabriel, with Force No. 1206ZZ, attached to Pipeline vandals Taskforce and his service pistol fell down.

``We have these exhibits with us. The police anti-pipeline vandal taskforce cannot claim they don't know Civil Defence uniform and patrol van. The attack is an indication of hatred against the Corps for winning the war against vandals.

``It is only uniform men conniving with vandals to sabotage the Nigeria economy that would deliberately open fire on our men so that their evil trade will continue.”

The DPRO said that the corpses have been deposited at the mortuary, while the bullet ridden patrol van parked at the Lagos command headquarters, Alausa.

He said that NSCDC highest authority has taken the case with the appropriate authorities, with a view to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the police officers involved in the incident have been arrested and detained at the police headquarters, Ikeja.