10 days after vandals’ attack: Three NSCDC officers still missing

Ten days after suspected pipelines vandals attacked Owutu Police Station, at Ikorodu, killing two policemen, injuring two officers of the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and abducting others, the NSCDC authority said three of its men were still missing.

The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Mefor Chibuzo said that intense search was still on for the missing men.

The State’s NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Abafi Gabriel worried about his men, said: “The action of these vandals will not stop NSCDC from carrying out its primary assignment, which is to ensure such persons and act were brought to book. I implore members of the public, not to look at the Corps as being too strict. Rather, they should NSCDC in fishing out any suspected situations or persons found in any criminal act.”
Gabriel said that whoever was found in such crime, would surely be made to face the wrath of the law.

It will be recalled that 10 days ago, gunmen stormed Owutu Police Station and opened fire. They killed two policemen, including a commercial motorbike rider. They also injured several people, raided the station’s armoury and freed detainees.

They carted away four AK47 rifles. Trouble started after members of NSCDC got information that oil thieves were operating at a village in Ikorodu and attempted to arrest them.

Speaking for the first time on the issue, Mefor said: “The clash started around 6pm, on January 26, when the Corps members went for a routine check at Ishawo area in Ikorodu. We were informed by intelligent source that some group of vandals would be off-loading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on that day, to a suspect who was expecting the consignment.

“But on getting to their hide out, the vandals had absconded. We didn’t known that they went to lay ambush for our men. They attacked our men. They opened fire on our unsuspecting men. They also burnt down our patrol van.”

Mefor said that when some of their men radioed for re-enforcement, they command had quickly alerted other security agencies to combine and rout the enemies.

 He said:  “The fighting and shooting lasted for hours! Eight of our men got injured. Two sustained gunshot injuries and three were taken hostage by the vandals. We don’t know whether they are dead or alive. We killed some of the vandals and others took to their heels. We’re seriously searching for the men.”

He said those who were shot had been discharged from hospital.