Slain NSCDC officer was to marry last Saturday

Akegbe and Adaji

Gabriel Adaji, one of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps officers that was killed during a clash between the corps and the police in Ikorodu, Lagos State, last Wednesday, was supposed to get married last Saturday.

The elder brother of the deceased, Simon, said everything was ready for the March 30, 2013 wedding, adding that the family did not, however, anticipate that the joy would be turned into mourning.

Simon, while addressing officers of the NSCDC that paid a condolence visit to the Iyana Ipaja family home of the deceased, urged civil defence boss, Dr. Ade Abolurin, to ensure that Adaji’s death was not in vain.

Simon, who spoke on behalf of the family, also urged Abolurin to work towards ensuring that Gabriel’s corpse was released on time because the family planned a quick burial.

He said, “Our brother died while serving the country and we demand justice for the deceased. He has left a vacuum that can never be filled and we will miss him but we don’t want his death to be in vain.

“We are Idoma people and according to our tradition, corpses of young people are meant to be buried on time. We urge you to use your good offices to ensure that the autopsy is done quickly and the corpse released for burial.”

At the Apapa home of the second slain NSCDC officer, Innocent Aigbe, sorrow engulfed the atmosphere as the deceased’s wife looked sorrowful without uttering a word.

It was learnt that Aigbe’s wife is a nursing mother.

While addressing the NSCDC boss, the deceased’s uncle, Rev. Sam Eboigbe, described him as a gallant officer who was also a responsible father and husband.

He said the wife was still in shock and was under close watch ever since the incident occurred.

“His wife is still in shock and she still asks when her husband is going to come back home because she has yet to come to terms with reality. Our son (Aigbe) was a dedicated officer and his death was saddening. All we want is justice,” he said.

Abolurin promised the families that the corps would continue to look after them, adding that the slain men had been insured against such contingencies in line with the civil defence tradition.

The NSCDC officers were allegedly killed at Isawo area of Ikorodu after a collision with the police.

Some suspected oil pipeline vandals, arrested by NSCDC, escaped during the fracas.

Although police authorities said the shooting was as a result of an argument and was a shootout between the two law enforcement agencies, the NSCDC maintained that the police killed its men in order to aid the release of the vandals.

While briefing journalists at the command headquarters, Abolurin insisted that his men did not exchange gunfire with the policemen because only his men were hit.

While inspecting the NSCDC patrol vehicle used during the said operation, Abolurin pointed out bullets holes on the side window, windscreen and the fuel compartment of the vehocle.

He said, “My men did not shoot back because only our men were shot. Two were killed while five sustained wounds. Our patrol vehicle was also riddled with bullets while the vehicle of the police was not touched by anything,” he said.

Abolurin said a civil defence officer, Olanreju Gbedeogun, who was arrested by the police at the scene had been released and investigations were ongoing.

The NSCDC boss urged his men to remain calm and not to avenge the death of their colleagues, saying President Goodluck Jonathan had stepped in.

Punch