NSCDC official opens fire on truck, kills one in A’Ibom

An operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has killed a 26-year-old man, Mr. Chukwudi John, after he opened fire on a truck in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday when John, an employee of Dompec Global Resources Limited, was returning from Abak Local Government Area in the state, where he and his colleagues had gone to supply goods.

A witness, Mr. Anthony Okpara, said the incident happened around 2:30pm when they reached Itam, opposite a primary school in Uyo.

He said it all started when the operative signalled the driver of the truck conveying them to stop so that he could check its content.

He stated that as the driver tried to pull over, shots were fired into the vehicle, hitting John in the head and chest. He added that the 26-year-old died instantly.

He said, “We went to Abak to supply goods to customers this morning. As we came back to Uyo, just at Itam beside a primary school, the civil defence guy asked us to stop. The driver was telling him that there was nothing in the vehicle except four cartons of Indomie.

“Without much talk, the driver tried to clear from the road and in the process, the corps fired shots into the vehicle from behind. John, who was hit by the bullets, died instantly,” he said.

He stated that when the operatives noticed that one of the truck’s occupants had died, they fled the scene.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Daniel Chukwuma, said John worked for him for over a year.

He said the vehicle was empty when they reached Uyo as they had supplied the goods they took to Abak to his customers.

Chukwuma demanded justice for John and urged security operatives to carry out a thorough investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, said investigation was ongoing.

She said once the investigation was concluded, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, would make the findings public.

She said, “Investigation is ongoing and when the Commissioner of Police is done with that matter, he will revert to the public on what took place.”

Efforts to speak with the Commandant of the NSCDC, Mrs. Obiageli Obiajulu, in her office were not successful.

The Public Relations Officer of the corps, Mr. Owoidighe Thomas, said Obiajulu was not composed to talk with the press.

On his part, Thomas said he did not have authority to speak on the issue.

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