The Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin, on Friday escaped being killed by a policeman in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Others who escaped alongside Abolurin were operatives of the Nigerian Army, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.
There were also representatives of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
They came under siege when a police inspector attempted to open fire on them as they inspected materials seized from petroleum products vandals at the Ikorodu area of Lagos state.
The attack was allegedly orchestrated by the arrest of some suspected vandals and oil thieves on the waters in possession of petroleum products in several jerry cans, including two big Cotonou boats.
The suspected police team, which came in an unmarked commercial bus, popularly called Danfo, carrying AK47 riffles, challenged Abolurin, saying the were in charge of the area and that he had no right to visit the area because it belongs to the police.
The committee, which has Abolurin as chairman, was constituted by the office of the AGF and has for some time now been on assessment tour of the country for disposable forfeited items used for vandalism of critical infrastructure.
However, attempt by members of the committee to caution the officer was rebuffed by him and members of his team, claiming that they were on a mission there so everyone should steer clear.
Further investigation revealed that a distress call was put across to the suspected police team by the arrested vandals and upon arrival, their aim was to set them off the hook of the NSCDC by threatening to shoot the CG who was behind the arrest of their partners in the illicit business.
It was also to prevent the committee from confiscating the recovered items, which have become exhibits in event of prosecution.
It was however unclear if the suspected officer was working on a written script by a superior authority or just acting in his own capacity as a vandal in uniform.
The NSCDC said on Friday that what was however clear was that this is the umpteenth time that officers and men of the corps has been brazenly harassed, molested, assassinated or maimed by officers of the Nigeria Police in recent time in the cause of carrying out their legitimate assignments.
The statement added: “Still fresh in our memory is the killing of two men of the anti vandal squad of the Lagos state command of NSCDC namely AIC Gabriel Adaji and IC Innocent Akegbe by the police in 2013.”
The spokesperson of the NSCDC, Emmanuel Eke, added in a statementon Friday: “Meanwhile, the Act establishing the NSCDC is unequivocal in its assignment of the duty of protection of critical infrastructure of government and national assets to the corps with tremendous record of achievement by the organization as evident in the various arrest of vandals in different parts of the country and prosecution of same to serve as deterrent to others and to ensure that Mr President’s effort in ensuring that life becomes more meaningful for Nigerians through the provision of basic amenities such as unfettered supply of petroleum products, uninterrupted power supply among others is actualized.”
Reacting, the Nigeria Police said it has launched investigation into the report by the NSCDC.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said in a statement late on Friday: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a press release issued, Friday, 22nd August, 2014 by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, CSC Emmanuel Okeh, in which he alleged that an unnamed Police Inspector single-handedly “attempted to open fire” on the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ade Abolurin and over 200 of his committee members, including representatives of the Nigerian Army, EFCC, ICPC and office of the Attorney-General of the Federation among others.
“The allegation is being investigated by the Force and the outcome will be made public soonest.”