The growing rift between the men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took a dangerous turn yesterday over an allegation that the Commandant General of the Corps, Mr. Ade Abolurin escaped assassination attempt by a Police Inspector in Lagos.
According to an eye witness account, the incident took place on Friday morning, when the Police Inspector at Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos state, ordered his men to shoot at Abolurin and his entourage, on the premise that the NSCDC boss “has no right to visit the area because it belongs to the Police.
“There was pandemonium in Owutu area of Ikorodu Lagos this morning as people ran in all directions to avoid being hit by stray bullets when an Police Inspector who led his team in the area ordered his men to open fire on the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin who was on tour of the area to inspect disposable forfeited items and to charge his men in continuous war against vandalism in the area”.
This was later confirmed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), NSCDC, CSC Emmanuel Okeh, who in a statement said that Abolurin escaped assassination attempt by the men of the Police Force.
“The Commandant General…who was on inspection and assessment tour of disposable forfeited items along with other committee members from the Nigerian Army, EFCC, ICPC, office of the Attorney General of the federation among others came under siege when a suspected police inspector attempted to open fire on them at Ikorodu, Lagos state”, Okeh said.
He revealed that the attack was orchestrated by the arrest of some suspected vandals and oil thieves on the waters in possession of petroleum products in several jerry cans, including two big Cotonou boats.
According to him, the suspected police team who came in an unmarked “Danfo” bus carrying AK47 riffles, challenged the CG that they were in charge, so, he had no right to visit the area because it belonged to the police.
Okeh noted that “the committee which the CG of NSCDC is the chairman was constituted by the office of the Attorney General of the federation and have for some time now been on assessment tour of the country for disposable forfeited items used for vandalism of critical infrastructure”.
However, he said, attempt by members of the committee to caution the officer was rebuffed by him and members of his team claiming that they were on a mission there so everyone should steer clear.
Okeh said that further investigation revealed that a distress call was put across to the suspected police team by the arrested vandals and upon arrival, their aim was to let them off the hook of NSCDC by threatening to shoot the CG who masterminded the arrest of their partners in this illicit business and secondly to prevent the committee from confiscating the recovered items which had become exhibits in event of prosecution.
“It is however unclear if the suspected officer was working on a written script by a superior authority or just acting in his own capacity as a vandal in uniform.
“What is however clear is that, this is the umpteenth time that officers and men of the corps have been brazenly harassed, molested, assassinated or maimed by officers of the Nigeria police in recent time in the cause of carrying out their legitimate assignments”, he lamented.
Okeh added that “still fresh in our memory is the killing of two men of the anti vandal squad of the Lagos state command of NSCDC namely AIC Gabriel Adaji and IC Innocent Akegbe by the police in 2013″.
He emphasised that “the Act establishing the NSCDC is unequivocal in its assignment of the duty of protection of critical infrastructure of government and national assets to the corps with tremendous record of achievement by the organisation as evident in the various arrest of vandals in different parts of the country and prosecution of same to serve as deterrent to others.
“And to ensure that Mr President’s effort in ensuring that life becomes more meaningful for Nigerians through the provision of basic amenities such as unfettered supply of petroleum products, uninterrupted power supply among others is actualised”.