NSCDC Operative Injures 3 In Akwa Ibom

A female operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has allegedly opened fire on residents of Udo Ekong Ekwere area of Atan Offot community in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

A resident of the community, who was physically assaulted explained that trouble started when officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) disconnected some defaulting homes, cutting and carting away their cables, which infuriated angry residents.

The local residents, who were said to have been angered by the action of the PHEDC officials, had attempted to prevent them from going away with the cables.

In an attempt to to scare the angry youths away from attacking, a lady NSCDC operative opened fire on them but three people, including a woman, were caught by stray bullets.

“There was real horror at Atan Offot community when some dare-devil untamed officials of the NSCDC attacked the peaceful community, opening sporadic gunfire at citizens, mortally injuring at least three persons, who are now lying critically ill, but responding to treatment in various hospitals in Uyo,” the resident said.

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Narrating further, he said at some minutes past 10:00 am, officials of the PHEDC, led by a certain Daniel, who was described as a notorious serial extortioner who steals customers’ cables, led some officers of the NSCDC to the area to disconnect some customers, and made away with their cables.

“One of the owners of the cable requested to have his cable back, insisting that his cable be left for him, but Daniel collected a jack knife from one of the NSCDC officials and stabbed one person in the hand.

“Then a lady official of the NSCDC squatted on the ground on one knee, and opened sporadic fire in the community, and persons who were not even at the scene of the scuffle, were hit by stray bullets including a woman, identified as Helen Ime Okon, who was selling her wares across the road but was fatally injured in the neck while bending to attend to a customer.

“A young man shot at point–blank range in the leg, and another visitor who was passing by the road was hit in the hand and the buttocks.

” After the sad incident, the PHEDC officials that procured the NSCDC officers to carry out these unprovoked attacks on the citizens got reinforcement from the Police, and went round the community arresting, assaulting, harassing, and brutalizing citizens, including minors at random,” the resident stressed.

The state NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Friday Ekerete, confirmed the incident, saying the officer in question acted in self defense to prevent being lynched by the angry mob, adding that she only fired warning shots in the air to scare the mob away.

According to him, the State Commandant of the Corps, Engr. Eluwade deeply regretted the incident that has the potential of straining the long–cherished cordial relationship between the NSCDC State Command and Atan Offot residents.