The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NSCDC

  • Civil Defence parades suspected pipeline vandals

    TWO Nigerians and nationals of the neighboring countries like Benin, Togo and Ghana, were among the 15 suspected pipeline vandals paraded yesterday in Lagos by the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command.

    They were among the 16 suspects arrested on Monday with 21,000 litres of petrol carried in 700 jerry cans of 30-litre capacity each in wooden boats.

    One of them had taken ill and was undergoing treatment in an undisclosed medical facility, the command said.

    The Commandant, Donatus Ikemefuna, who paraded them at the NSCDC state command headquarters at Alausa in Ikeja yesterday, said they were arrested based on information received through the machinery put in place by his command immediately he assumed duty three months ago.

    Ikemefuna said the suspected vandals were arrested on the high seas behind the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) in the Badagry area of the state.

    He said one of the core responsibilities of the Corps is the protection of national economic assets, especially petroleum pipelines.

    “We were informed that they were going to carry out the operations; we laid ambush for them and arrested them. We will take them to court after investigations”, he said.

    On why he paraded them, the commandant said they had been arresting vandals without parading them, but since they kept increasing in number, he had no option than to parade them for the country and their families to see.

    He appealed to relevant agencies of state in charge of foreign nationals to help check their influx, adding that the Corps was working hard to unravel the sponsors of the vandals and their patrons.

    One of the suspects, Gbeleyin Adeyemi, a Lagos resident, said he came to give information to NSCDC, but was caught along the line with others, while Imate Fatai, another suspect, said but a boat operator.

    He said somebody from Benin Republic asked him bring goods from Nigeria for him, adding that he boarded the boat only to discover that it was not fish or other products, but petrol.

  • Four feared dead in Lagos clash

    Four feared dead in Lagos clash

    •Nobody was killed, says NSCDC

    Four persons were feared killed on Monday evening in Festac, Amuwo-Odofin, Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos, following a clash between operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Neighbourhood Watch, and traders.

    The incident occurred in front of the council’s secretariat on 41 Road, Festac about 4pm, when some traders whose stores were demolished in Alakija area protested the seizure of their good.

    Sources said the council had ordered men of the Neighbourhood Watch to demolish the shops that were tagged illegal.

    However, during the demolition, the traders attempted to salvage what was left of their wares without success as the wares were loaded into the operational vehicle of the officials who insisted that they were seized goods.

    They also tried to seize the money machine of an operator of the popular ‘Baba Ijebu’ lotto centre.

    Sources said the area boys and some members of the National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW), who had staked their money in the lotto and were waiting for the result, resisted the move.

    The council was said to have invited two patrol teams of OP-MESSA, comprising policemen and soldiers, to arrest the situation.

    Operatives of the OP-MESSA were said to have arrested about eight of the traders and transport union members and later released them on realising the illegality of the arrest.

    At Alakija, there was a free-for-all between the traders, NURTW members and the Neighbourhood Watch during which broken bottles and other weapons were freely used.

    The Nation gathered that during the fight, the wares seized were moved to the council’s secretariat even as the protesting traders followed them.

    As the protest went on, operatives of NSCDC made futile attempt to disperse the traders. An NSCDC operative allegedly opened fire on the protesters, killing about four and injured many.

    The wounded were rushed to some private hospitals in the area, where they are being treated.

    Area ‘E’ Commander, Dan Okoro, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), confirmed the incident, but could not confirm the number of casualties.

    He said investigation was ongoing, adding that he had briefed Commissioner of Police Umar Manko on the incident.

    The NSCDC spokesperson, Chibuzor Mefor said the allegation is not true.

    He said: “Our men did not kill anybody as far as we know. What happened was that a mob besieged the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government and the Secretariat. To protect him, our men shot into the air. Even nobody was injured.”

  • Civil Defence rescues 19 expectant girls from ‘baby factory’

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raided a ‘baby factory’ at Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government and rescued 19 expectant girls.

    Parading the teenagers and workers in the ‘factory’, NSCDC Commandant Andy Dateer said they received information about a home where expectant girls were kept until they were delivered of their babies, who would later be sold.

    He said the name of the ‘baby factory’ is Nma Charity and Motherless Babies’ Home and that the owner, who is at large, brings in men, who impregnate the teenagers. He added that the girls are given peanuts.

    The NSCDC boss said his men raided the place yesterday and rescued the girls and three babies, adding that four ‘social workers’ and four men were arrested.

    He said he paraded the girls and the suspects to make the indigenes to be aware that such people exist in the state.

    Dateer said although the raiding of a ‘baby factory’ is not within their operation, “it is part of the security work we do. I’ve informed the police, the women affairs department, the office of the governor’s wife and the governor about the development.”

    He said he would hand over the girls and the suspects to the appropriate authority. “We will ensure the teenagers are taken to their homes to reunite with their families. We urge their parents to take them back.”

    The NSCDC chief said one of the teenagers is in a bad condition and she has been taken to hospital.

    He said the girls told him that they had not been fed for two days. “But I’ve made arrangement for them to be fed. I enjoin the government to assist us in rehabilitating the girls.”

    Dateer said 15 of the teenagers are indigenes, while the rest are from neighbouring states.

    The Nation learnt that this is the third time security agencies would raid the ‘baby factory’ to rescue expectant teenagers.

    On each occasion, the owner escaped.

  • Civil Defence arrests suspected vandal

    Civil Defence arrests suspected vandal

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

    (NSCDC) has arrested and paraded a suspect, who specialises in vandalising street light solar panels.

    Speaking to reporters when parading the suspect, the commandant, Andy Dateer, said the man was arrested on Azikiwe/Macaulay Road with a ladder and the three solar energy batteries he allegedly stole.

    Dateer said the suspect is Chukwuebuka Ewelumndu from Aguata in Anambra State.

    He said it was regrettable that after government spent a lot of money to provide amenities, hoodlums wanted to vandalise them.

    The Abia NSCDC boss said nemesis caught up with the suspect when he was trying to vandalise the street lights.

    “The suspect specialises in vandalising street lights. He has been in

    the business for long. We are investigating him.”

    Dateer said he was caught on top of a street light removing batteries.

    “We are sure he has been doing this with his ladder. We will take him to court after investigation.”

    He warned the public to be wary of people who carry ladder, saying most of them are vandals.

    The suspect confessed that he was caught by NSCDC men when attempting to remove batteries from the street light, adding that he took the ladder from an uncompleted building.

    Ewelumndu said he was living in Umuahia before moving to Owerri, adding that he was a trained welder and needed money to go back to Owerri.

    “I am married and I have a child. I need money to go back to my family,” he added.

     

  • Two killed in Ogun road accidents

    Two killed in Ogun road accidents

    Two people have died in two accidents on the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway. Six others were critically injured.

    The first accident occurred around 10:16am yesterday at Onipepeye. It involved a Mitsubishi Space Wagon marked LAGOS BDG 810 XK, coming from Lagos, and a Toyota Camry numbered LAGOS AAA 524 CW.

    The Camry, which was going towards Sagamu, was said to have skidded off the road and collided with the Space Wagon, which was going to Abeokuta. Two passengers died on the spot.

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) were on the scene.

    Head of the Rescue Team of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) Mr. Adeola Adekoya said one of the passengers, Mrs. Tope Akingbade, was trapped in one of the vehicles for some time.

    Adekoya attributed the crash to speeding, adding that help did not get to the victims until about an hour later.

    He said officials of the State Ambulance Service administered first aid on the victims before they were taken to the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta.

    The second crash, a lone one, also occurred in Onipepeye, about 100 meters away from the scene of the first accident. It involved a BMW X5 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), numbered (LAGOS) KJA 595 AY.

    One of the two occupants of the vehicle, who was critically injured, was taken to the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta.

  • NSCDC prosecutes 50 offenders in Akwa Ibom

    The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Akwa Ibom, Mr. Pedro Ideba, said the command prosecuted 50 offenders in the state in the first quarter of the year.

    Ideba said the offences bordered on oil theft and destruction of oil installations among others, insisting that the command would not relent in fighting criminal activities in the state.

    In a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday, he said the command had also curtailed the activities of oil thieves and vandals in the state.

    “We have about 50 cases in courts, 38 of them are awaiting the forensic analysis test of the products involved.

    “Almost on a daily basis, we make arrests; and we have a synergy with other security agencies in the state to ensure peace and stability in Akwa Ibom.

    “We have also successfully stamped out examination malpractice in the state.

    “Owners of schools that were noted for encouraging examination malpractice have been arrested and they are facing trials,’’ he said.

    Ideba said the command would not relent in its effort to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in the state.

    He also assured the public that the corps would continue to work in synergy with other security agencies in the state to reduce crimes.

  • Two die in tanker explosion

    Two die in tanker explosion

    Two suspected oil thieves were yesterday burnt to death in a tanker explosion at Ivue-Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Two others were rescued and they are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred at 1:30am when the tanker driver, who was apparently trying to escape from soldiers, lost control and crashed into an electricity pole.

    Witnesses said high tension cable reportedly collapsed on the truck, which caused it to burst into flames.

    Spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Uromi Augustine Apili said soldiers were trailing the tanker before it had the accident.

    He said the accident could have been caused by reckless driving.

    Apili said the NSCDC would arrest the survivors.

  • Police arraign 17 suspects for malicious damage

    Police arraign 17 suspects for malicious damage

    The police in Ogun State arraigned yesterday 17 suspects, who were allegedly part of the mob that attacked the home of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police at Ijaye in Abeokuta on Monday. A mob threw stones at the windows of the retired police officer’s home and vandalised some of his belongings on suspicions that he was trading in human parts. The mob threatened to burn down the building if its suspicions were confirmed. But when men and officers of the police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO), accompanied by the Balogun of Ijaiye, Alhaji Ganiyu Alimo, and representatives of the people, searched the three-storey building, nothing suspicious was found. The suspects were charged to Magistrate Court 1, Isabo in Abeokuta for malicious damage, conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. The suspects were granted bail and the case adjourned to June 25. Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said the suspects attacked policemen, community leaders and other security agents on the scene after the house was searched. Commissioner for Police Ikemefuna Okoye condemned attacks on innocent persons over unconfirmed allegations and warned against jungle justice. He said suspicions should be reported to the police for investigation.

  • Mob searches ex-police officer’s home for human parts

    Mob searches ex-police officer’s home for human parts

    A three-storey building in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was vandalised yesterday by an angry mob on the suspicion that the owner trades in human parts.

    The house is situated at Agogo-Ogun Compound in Ijaiye. It is reportedly owned by a retired police officer.

    Residents, in their hundreds, gathered at the gate of the house and threw stones and other objects at the glass window panes.

    They were about to pull down the fence when men and officers of the Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO) intervened.

    The residents claimed that there was an underground cell in the house where kidnap victims were being held before they were killed and their parts sold to ritualists.

    By noon, when the residents insisted that they would not leave the compound until it was searched, the security agents sent for the Balogun of Ijaiye and Aare of Egbaland, Alhaji Ganiyu Alimo.

    When he arrived, the security men broke into the building and searched it. They were accompanied by the Balogun and representatives of the residents.

    After searching for about an hour, nothing was found.

    Two female tenants were found in the compound.

    The residents, who had threatened to burn the building if their suspicions were confirmed, were told to go home.

    Addressing reporters after the search, the Balogun said: “I do not know what the mob was looking for. The people said there was an underground cell here but we searched everywhere and found no underground cell. This is an unfounded rumour and I do not know the person behind it. I do not know if the owner of the building has been notified of this incident because I do not know him very well.

    “He has never come to my house. He built on a family land. This is Agogo-Ogun compound. When he was building this house, I asked the people living here about him and they said he is one of their children.

    “Having gone inside and found no underground prison, I appeal to the youths not cause chaos because the rumour is unfounded. There is no need to break into somebody’s house, if they have suspicions about him. They should inform the Council of Chiefs and we will talk to him.”

    VSO spokesman Soji Ganzalo said: “We heard that there was an underground cell at the house and that they were trading in human parts. We mobilised security agents there and searched the house and nothing of such was found.

    “The mob vandalised the house and if we were not on ground, it would have been set on fire. It is a baseless accusation. Nothing of what they alleged happened here. We have been trying to get the phone number of the owner of the house to notify him of the incident. But with the presence of the Balogun here, who is the number one person in Ijaiye, I believe there would be no problem. He is a member of the community.”

    One of the ladies found in the compound said: “I was inside the house when I heard the crowd outside smashing the glass windows. I do not really know what happened outside. The other tenant moved in here about five days ago.”

  • Morgues overwhelmed after explosion at motor park

    Morgues overwhelmed after explosion at motor park

    Government hospitals in Abuja were overwhelmed yesterday by the sheer number of casualties from the blast.

    An official of the Federal Ministry of Health who claimed to have visited all the general hospitals in Abuja said 124 persons were affected by the blast.

    He said 71 persons had been confirmed dead as at 11.00am.

    Fifteen bodies wrapped in black body bags were counted at the Wuse General Hospital.

    Chief Medical Director Dr. Obiora Chibundu told Interior Minister Abba Moro that 58 casualties were rushed to the hospital, 38 of them men.

    Senate Committee on Power Chairman Philip Aduda and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant-General Ade Abolurin were also at the hospital.

    Dr. Chibundu said while one victim had been treated and discharged, 11 others were stable but still undergoing treatment.

    He added that doctors were attending to other critically injured victims in the theatre.

    The hospital’s mortuary could not accommodate 15 bodies. They were left lying in the sun at the premises.

    Chibundu said the situation was the same at Maitama, Asokoro and the National Hospital.

    An official of the Federal Ministry of Health said Garki General Hospital would take the bodies.

    Chibundu said the hospital ambulances had been placed on standby to transfer the bodies to the alternative mortuary.

    One of the victims on admission at the hospital, Mr. Cosmas Uguanyi, said he was on queue to board one of the buses when the blast took place.

    Besides a major cut to Uguanyi’s head, which was already stitched and bandaged, he said the loud explosions affected his ears.

    Another victim, Mr. Nuhu Abdullahi, whose left hand and two legs were badly injured, said he was in a hurry to go to his workplace when the incident happened.

    Moro told our correspondent that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

    He said: “It is only unfortunate that at this time of nation building, this is happening as a setback to the whole process.

    “Our primary duty now is to take care of the living and preserve those who have died rather than counting figures.

    “The dead will be sent to the various morgues as arrangements are being made on that.”

    Security was heavy in and around the Wuse General Hospital.

    Policemen were diverting vehicles from the road leading to the hospital.