Some police officers in Lagos on Tuesday night attacked a van conveying officers of the Nigerian Securities and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and got two of the officers killed in order to rescue suspected oil vandals arrested by the security officials.
The names of the officers killed were given as Assistant Inspector, Gabriel Adaji and Inspector Innocent Akegbe. The incident which occurred at the Ikorodu end of the state resulted in a clash between policemen and officers of the NSCDC on Wednesday at Alausa, very close to the Lagos Government House.
It was learnt that the policemen, whose identities are yet to be revealed, ambushed the van with registration number CD 15 A01, while the suspects were being taken to a base of the NSCDC. The officers of the NSCDC were shot inside the van and they died instantly.
The blood soaked vehicle is still parked at the NSCDC headquarters in Alausa just as NSCDC officers are still spoiling for reprisal. It was also learnt that the corpses of the dead officers have been deposited at the Military Hospital mortuary in Yaba.
The Nigeria police have often been known for high corruption and inhuman treatment meted out to hapless citizens of the country. There have also been cases where police officers reportedly shot and killed their colleagues over issues concerning money.
Several Nigerians had suspected police involvement in pipeline vandalism in several areas where such crimes had been perpetrated in recent times. In the current case, it is believed that the vandals had contacted the police to intimate them of their plight resulting in the attack.
Recounting how the incident happened, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Civil Defence Corps, Kehinde Dada, explained that the killed officers were on an official duty in which they raided the vandals in Ikorodu. She said the incident happened while the officers were returning with the arrested suspects adding that due to the suddenness of the attack, the dead officials could not defend themselves.
Vexed by the incident, colleagues of the dead officers waylaid two policemen who were passing through the NSCDC head office. They forced the policemen into the NSCDC office and almost lynched them. This action resulted in a shoot-out between policemen and NSCDC officers. It took the timely intervention of the men of the state Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to quell the clash.
The confrontation resulted in pandemonium across the entire area where government ministries, banks and state House of Assembly are located. The police authority in the state has refused to comment hours after the incident occurred.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, denied knowledge of the incident. However, the NSCDC officers have remained resolute on ensuring that they avenge the death of their colleagues.
