Police, NSCDC clash in Ebonyi community leaves officer dead, others injured

A violent clash between operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Amaeze community, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has left one policeman dead and several others injured.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Chairman of Ivo LGA, Emmanuel Ajah, said he was briefed by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ivo Division about the bloody confrontation between the two sister security agencies.

“I was informed by the DPO that there was a clash involving the police and civil defence officers in Amaeze community, and unfortunately, one police officer lost his life in the process,” Ajah stated.

Eyewitnesses from Amaeze community, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the deceased policeman, identified as Shedrack, may have been mistakenly shot by his colleagues.

According to the source, trouble erupted when three Toyota Hilux vans conveying about 30 policemen reportedly double crossed and opened fire on an NSCDC van conveying mining equipment to a site in Amaeze.

“In the course of the fracas, Shedrack allegedly attempted to disarm a civil defence officer but when other policemen tried to shoot at the NSCDC operative, they mistakenly hit their colleague, who died on the spot, while some others sustained gunshot injuries,” the source said.

The dead police officer has been deposited in the morgue, while those injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The police and NSCDC authorities in Ebonyi are yet to issue official statements on the incident as at press time.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Ebonyi State Police Command were not successful as the Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, could not be reached for comments.