Two NSCDC officers arrested for killing boat owner

The Bayelsa State Police Command on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their alleged involvement in the killing of Mr. Akunama Agunza, a 25-year-old boat owner.

The authorities said though the arrested NSCDC officials had not been formally handed over to the police for interrogation, the accused were alleged to have conspired with some other unidentified persons in the incident that led to the drowning of the boat owner.

It was learnt that the deceased was allegedly arrested for his attempt to secure the release of his wooden boat impounded by the illegal bunkering task force set up by the Southern the Ijaw Local Government Area.

Agunza was also said to have hired out his boat to some youths, but the boat was used for illegal bunkering and got impounded.

It was further learnt that an attempt by the boat owner to secure the release of the boat led to his death in a controversial circumstance.

Spokesman for the deceased family, Silas Okiri, said the case was reported to Oporoma Police Station after the family discovered the decomposing body of Agunza along the Ofonigbene River in Southern Ijaw.

Okiri, who is the elder brother of the deceased, accused the two NSCDC personnel of complicity, stressing that they were unable to tell the family the whereabouts of the deceased while his mobile phones and boat were in their custody.

The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said investigation was ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the death of the boat owner.

He, however, said with the arrest of two NSCDC personnel, a new twist had been added to the incident.

He said, “Two families are laying claims to the corpse of the deceased. While the other family is claiming it was their brother, another family came up to say it was their missing son found floating on the river. We are investigating.”

PUNCH