The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Edo State Command has downplayed the allegations that its officers are demanding bribes from drivers of a petroleum tankers, in Ekpoma area of the state.
It was learnt that officials of the Edo State Command had Friday allegedly requested an undisclosed amount of money as gratification, after accusing the driver, identified as Zakari, of conveying illegal petroleum products.
Zakari was said to have been intercepted at by the security operatives on Benin-Auchi road and was asked to present the way bill of the product, which he allegedly did.
Spokesperson for the command, Mr. Ogbebor Efosa, in his statement on Monday said the claim was an attempt to soil the good image of the security agency, adding that the command had established a case of diversion of petroleum product.
According to Efosa, the truck was loaded for Lagos and was to offload at Ijora, according to the way bill, but was found in Auchi.
Efosa who denied the allegation that NSCDC officials shot at the tanker, however, admitted, that one of the tyres was deflated to prevent the driver from escaping with the vehicle.
He said, “When the driver was stopped at first, he failed to stop. Later, the officers followed the truck and finally stopped the truck. The driver took to his heels and ran into the bush.
“One of the tyres was deflated because it was getting late, so the driver will not come later to take the truck away. Then, after several hours, he came out from his hiding place to meet the officers and when he was interrogated, they discovered it was a case of diversion,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesman added, “No money was demanded; he was immediately brought to the command and he has been released and no one was beating or treated like an animal. Our duty is to check, monitor any truck which we suspect to be carrying illegal product or even diverting product.”
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