Battle for Mining Site: Officer gunned down as Police, Civil Defence clash in Ebonyi

A deadly clash between operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) 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 Wednesday night, the Executive Chairman of Ivo L.G.A, Emmanuel Ajah, said he was briefed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ivo Division about the ugly incident involving 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, stated that the deceased policeman, identified as Shedrack, was allegedly shot dead by his fellow Police officer.

According to the source, tension erupted when three Hilux vans conveying about 30 policemen reportedly blocked a team of NSCDC on official duty and as a result of a heated argument, a trigger happy Policeman (name withheld) allegedly opened fire on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) van conveying mining equipment to a site in Amaeze.

The development unfortunately resulted in the killing of the police officer.

Daily Times gathered that the Policemen who went on the operation were members of Anti cultism, Crime Monitoring Unit (CMU), and SWAT of the Ebonyi State Police Command.

“It was reported that in the course of the fracas, Shedrack allegedly attempted to disarm a Civil Defence officer, but when another policeman tried to shoot at the NSCDC operative, he mistakenly shot at his colleague, who died on the spot, while some members of the Community sustained gunshot injuries,” the source said.

The dead Police officer is said to have been deposited in the morgue, while those injured are said to have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment in the Area.

As at the time of this report, the Nigeria Police and NSCDC authorities in Ebonyi State are yet to issue official statements, regarding the ugly incident.

This ugly development has brought tension into the affected community in the state.