Sit-at-home: Confusion as Police, NSCDC officers clash in Owerri

 

There was pandemonium in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Monday when armed policemen stormed the State Headquarters of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, shooting sporadically during the controversial sit-at-home order.

According to Vanguard, some residents of Okigwe Road and Works Layout said that they have scampered into the safety of their rooms.

A resident identified as Chuka (surname withheld), spoke via phone call said: “There is serious shooting going on in our area now. We have all scampered into the safety of our rooms. From where I am hiding with members of my family, I can’t hazard a guess on the people shooting.

“I’m not sure if the unknown gunmen are at it again, but I must, however, say that the shooting appears endless. I will keep you posted if the situation gets clearer.”

A businessman, who operates his outfit in the area and spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, said: “The shooting spree is between the police and NSCDC personnel. I understand that a police officer was arrested for a yet to be ascertained infraction and detained by NSCDC officers. I also learnt that he alerted his colleagues and they stormed NSCDC.

“It is not clear if they succeeded in getting their man out from detention or not. It is also not clear if anybody died in the process, but the massive shooting was uncalled for.

“The invading police officers ought to have chosen a more civilized approach in resolving whatever was the issue, instead of taking laws into their hands. I expect the State Commissioner of Police to fish out the fellows that attacked the NSCDC Headquarters and punish them appropriately.”

Vanguard reported that effort to get the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abattam, to confirm the incident failed, as he rather retorted: “Really? What happened?”