Some natives in Bayelsa use devilish strategies to frustrate security officials - NSCDC allegesThe alleged attack on a vigilante member at Ikarama community, Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa, by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), on Tuesday, February 20, is causing tension in the state.
- The Bayelsa state of mid west area in West commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Godwin Nwachukwu has dismissed claims that officials of the command attacked a vigilante group member in Ikarama community, Yenagoa local government area
- Chief Richard Seiba, the traditional head of Ikarama community, affirmed that the vigilante member, by name Perekurofa Odoyiboa, was actually shot in his leg and arm by operatives of the force
- Nwachukwu, however, said that members of the community are notorious for their devilish strategies in frustrating the efforts of the command
The alleged shooting of a neighbourhood watch member at Ikarama community, Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa state of mid west area in West, by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), on Tuesday, February 20, is now a cause for serious worry in the state.
Whereas some persons in the community claim that operatives of the security agency shot a vigilante member, the state commandant, Godwin Nwachukwu, dismissed the allegation. Nwachukwu further said that oil thieves destroyed a bridge leading to the community in a bid to avoid arrest, Vanguard reports.
Report revealed that the anti-vandal team of the force had gone to the community scouting for a suspected oil vandal, but arrested a female suspect instead, while Perekurofa Odoyiboa, a local vigilante member, was shot during a misunderstanding between the security officials and his colleagues.
READ ALSO: Restructure before anything else - Southeast leaders tell FG, National Assembly
The victim, reportedly shot on the arm and leg, was in a critical condition and taken to an unnamed hospital in the state capital. Rebecca Odoyibo, the wife of the victim, lamented: ?Look at what they did to my husband who volunteered for the community vigilante work, he is there in pains and we lack the resources offset his hospital bills.?
In his narration of what happened, a youth leader, Ben Warder, said: ?The local vigilante team noticed the NSCDC van at about 3.00am and was trying to find out why they had to take away a nursing mother with children over an offense purportedly committed by the husband.?
?They shot one of them and sped off with the woman. They came from the oil field in Ikarama, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and that is why the youths mobilized and blocked the road to the Okordia manifold. The youths subsequently mobilized to protest the use of security men to molest oil communities; this is because we learnt that the arrest is linked to an oil spill incident.?
"I?m not a pipeline vandal- Suspect However, Mr. Orukari Udoji, the suspect whose wife, Deborah, was arrested and later released by operatives of the NSCDC, denied any involvement in pipeline vandalism. He said: ?I was out in the forest for my timber lumbering work when men of NSCDC stormed my residence and took away my wife.
READ ALSO: Heavy security at APC national secretariat as party holds NEC meeting
"I am at a loss on what to do because I do not even have idea of where they took her to, and as we speak I do not even have money to pay transport to go in search of her. Everybody in this community knows that I do timber work and by the time they came, I was in the forest working and they claimed that there was oil spill in the bush near where I felled some timber.
The traditional head of Ikarama community, Chief Richard Seiba, informed newsmen: ?What the Civil Defence people did was regrettable, they shot the boy twice on the arm and leg, I have just visited him and he is in pains and is currently receiving medical attention.
In reaction to this, Nwachukwu, stated: ?Ikarama is notorious for oil theft and pipeline vandalism and the syndicate has always adopted devilish strategies to frustrate the efforts of NSCDC to stop their practices.
"Despite all the antics of these evil merchants, we have continuously remained resolute to ensure an end to this economic crime. Our anti-vandal team based at Ikarama community responded to a case of sabotage of oil pipelines in the community.
PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!
?Our investigation into the incident that happened on the said night revealed that our men did not release any single gunshot. Despite all the harassments, insults and other uncivil means unleashed on them to stop them from arresting a key suspect involved in the recent vandalism in the community.
?Though the suspect escaped, they were able to arrest a woman, who works with the man and knew his whereabouts. The woman was quizzed and later released. She made valuable confessional statements, which we are using to continue with our investigation.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that the Edo command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed the arrest of a self-confessed Boko Haram suspect.
NAIJ.com gathered that according to the commandant of the NSCDC Makinde Ayinla, the suspect who gave his name as Sani was arrested on Saturday, February 24.
Police parade over 50 suspected cultists in Lagos - On NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng
Source:
Some natives in Bayelsa use devilish strategies to frustrate security officials - NSCDC alleges
Total Members: 
