NSCDC personnel shot dead in Rivers
An operative of the Special Mining Marshal unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was on Monday shot dead at Umunwantu village, Umuechem community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. Daily Trust gathered that the slain NSCDC operative had been deployed from the corps’ national headquarters as part of the Special […]
An operative of the Special Mining Marshal unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was on Monday shot dead at Umunwantu village, Umuechem community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Daily Trust gathered that the slain NSCDC operative had been deployed from the corps’ national headquarters as part of the Special Mining Marshal team to the area.
He was said to have accompanied government officials who were enforcing a ban on sand dredging in the community.
The incident reportedly triggered a clash between sand tipper drivers and the government officials when the officer’s rifle accidentally discharged, killing a man identified simply as Bright at a sand dump site.
Residents told Daily Trust that the officer was subsequently attacked and shot dead by suspected hoodlums at the sand dump following the accidental shooting.
A senior officer of the Rivers State Command of the NSCDC confirmed the incident but declined to be quoted, noting that the officer involved had been deployed from the national headquarters.
“Please, I am speaking strictly on the condition of anonymity because I am not authorised to speak on the matter. Yes, the incident occurred and it involved a Special Mining Marshal, a tactical team deployed by the national headquarters,” the officer said.
Following the incident, the Etche Local Government Council suspended all operations of tipper drivers and their parks within the area.
The Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Chief Chima Njoku, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Dagogo Isaac, directed that all activities of tipper drivers and their parks be halted with immediate effect until further notice.
The statement said the directive followed the death of the NSCDC officer who was on surveillance duty alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
“Consequently, all officials of the Tipper Drivers/Parks Unions operating in Etche Local Government Area are directed to report immediately to the Okehi Police Division to explain their roles, if any, in the incident. They are also expected to clarify the circumstances that led to the blockage of the Chokocho–Igwuruta Federal Highway.
“Failure to comply with this directive will attract the full wrath of the law,” the statement added.
The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development had earlier placed a ban on sand dredging and mining activities along the Chokocho–Umuechem Road, Chokocho–Igbo Road, as well as in Okoroagu, Umuayagu and Egwi communities in the local government area due to the negative environmental impact on roads and surrounding communities.