The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has accused an unnamed Police Inspector of making an assassination attempt on the life of its Commandant-General.
The CG, Dr Ade Abolurin was on inspection of forfeited items, along with other committee members from the Nigerian Army, EFCC, ICPC, office of the Attorney General of the Federation, among others on Friday, when the officer threatened to open fire on the delegation at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The committee, headed by Abolurin, was constituted by the AGF to take assessment tour of the country for disposable forfeited items used for vandalism of critical infrastructure.
A statement signed by Corps PRO, Emmanuel Okeh, said the attack followed the arrest of some suspected vandals and oil thieves caught in possession of petroleum products in several jerry cans, including two boats.
The police team reportedly arrived in an unmarked ‘danfo’ bus wielding AK47 riffles.
The leader, it was gathered, then challenged the CG ‘s and others’ presence, insisting that they had no business in the area as it was under steady police surveillance.
Attempts by members of the committee to caution the officer were rebuffed by him and his team, insisting they were there for a purpose.
The PRO said a distress call was put across to the police team by the arrested vandals and upon arrival, the aim was to let the criminals off the hook.
He further alleged that the intention of the police team was to take out the CG, who coordinated the arrest of the gang and also to prevent the federal government-backed committee from confiscating the recovered items, which would be presented as exhibits in event of prosecution.
The statement added that it was 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.
Continuing, it stated: “What is clear is that, this is the umpteenth time the officers and men of the Corps are brazenly harassed, molested, assassinated or maimed by officers of the Nigeria Police in recent time in the cause of carrying out their legitimate assignments.
“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.
“The Act establishing the NSCDC is unequivocal in its assignment of protection of critical infrastructure of government and national assets. The Corps have tremendous record of achievement, 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 actualized”, the statement added.
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