Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Akwa Ibom State Command has absolved its officer from shooting and injuring one Aniefiok John Peter and Marshall John Peter as speculated by a state-based newspaper.
It would be recalled that a state-based newspaper on December 6 published that an officer of NSCDC, had shot and injured the above-named suspects when he led operatives of the command to effect their arrest.
The Command Public Relations Officer, Mr Friday Ekerete, stated this while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Uyo on Thursday.
Ekerete said that the two persons claimed to have been shot by an officer of NSCDC are wanted by the corps for their involvement in bunkering activities, and willful and unlawful destruction of Federal Government property.
He explained that on October 3, the command received intelligence of the movement of bunkering products conveyed in cellophane bags in a vehicle.
According to him, based on the intelligence, the command operatives were mobilised to intercept the criminals.
Ekerete noted that in the course of the operation, the driver of the vehicle that conveyed the bunkering products Marshall John Peter on sighting the NSCDC patrol team in a branded Sienna SUV attempted to escape and drove towards Ikot Ubo village in Nsit Ubium LGA.
The PRO added that unknown to the NSCDC personnel, the driver, Marshall John Peter had put a call to his brother Aniefiok John Peter, who mobilised heavily armed youths to attack the operatives and obstructed them from performing their lawful duties.
Ekerete stated that the attack on the NSCDC personnel by the armed youth grew out of control and the NSCDC personnel had to make tactical withdrawals for safety.
He added that the armed youths blocked all exit routes of the village and held the NSCDC personnel hostage, until a reinforcement team which comprised military, police and NSCDC personnel came to their rescue.
“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State Command of NSCDC has been drawn to a publication in the Ink Newspaper purportedly alleging conspiracy to cover up shooting and injuring of one Aniefiok John Peter and Marshall John Peter by DSC Mike Asibor.
“On the 3rd of October 2023, the Command received intelligence of the movement of bunkering products conveyed in cellophane bags in a vehicle,” Ekerete said.
Ekerete said that the armed youth destroyed the NSCDC operational vehicle beyond repairs, adding that the vehicle was towed to Uyo.
According to him, the Chairman of the Village Council, Chief Edemekong Edemekong and youth leader, Mr Inyang Eno had approached the command and negotiated to repair the damaged vehicle.
He described the state-based newspaper report that the NSCDC officer was invited by the Nigeria Police Force and the officer refused to attend as false, stressing that the NSCDC officer did not shoot anyone as they are well trained to handle weapons.
The NSCDC spokesperson said that the Nigeria Police Force Akwa Ibom command and the NSCDC had been working collaboratively to ensure the security of the state and there was no issue between both security agencies.
He urged the good people of the state to disregard the publication of the state-based newspaper as a fallacious, malicious and poor attempt at misrepresentation of facts.