One officer dies as Police, NSCDC clash in Ebonyi community

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.

Emmanuel Ajah, Chairman of Ivo LGA, confirmed the incident on Thursday and 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.

According to eyewitnesses from Amaeze community, who pleaded anonymity, they alleged that the deceased policeman, identified as Shedrach, may have been mistakenly shot by his colleagues.

The source claimed that 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, Shedrach 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 SP Joshua Ukandu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, could not be reached for comments.