One killed, 60 arrested in NSCDC raid

A yet-to-be-identified man was feared killed as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Monday raided Majidun village in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The corps also arrested 60 residents, accusing them of either vandalising the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation pipeline in

the area or aiding and abetting the vandals.

The Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos Command, Mr. Shem Obafaye, also alleged that the villagers attacked NSCDC officials, who had gone to Majidun to arrest the suspected vandals.

Obafaye said the corps got a tip-off on Sunday about activities of the vandals and raced to the area.

He said, “The vandals fled on sighting our men and we were not able to effect any arrest. But a large number of kegs that were being used for the illegal business were confiscated by our men.

“This morning (Monday), we got information that the vandals had returned and we went back there. However, this time around, our men were attacked by the vandals and the villagers.

“We fought back and at the end of the day, we arrested 60 suspected pipeline vandals and recovered arms, ammunition, axes and cutlasses among other items. About seven officials of NSCDC were badly injured and are receiving treatment.

“Some initial investigations conducted after the attack on our men suggested that the vandals have the backing a particular leader of Majidun. We will soon arrest him.”

The commandant added that the suspects would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for prosecution.

The arrest of the suspected vandals later sparked off unrest as motorists were attacked by irate youths in the area while some Bus Rapid Transit buses were vandalised.

The suspects however denied complicity, saying the weapons recovered by the NSCDC did not belong to them.

One of the suspects, Soji Ajiboye, said, “I am a tipper driver and I was arrested at a Majidun Bus Stop.  I was thoroughly beaten when I resisted arrest. They did not find any ammunition on me.”

Another suspect, Tajudeen Adeniran, who claimed to be a former vice-chairman of the tipper drivers’ union, said the NSCDC officials arrested mechanics and not vandals or the villagers that attacked them.

He, however, declined to name any known vandal or a villager that attacked the corps officials.

A man, who identified himself as the spokesman for Majidun Tipper Garage, Kehinde Omoyale, also denied taking part in any crime.

He said, “We were wrongly arrested. The officials just came into our park and threatened to kill us if we resisted arrest. They initially arrested market women as well but later released them. They are just being overzealous.”

But the commandant dismissed their claims, saying a large number of residents of the community were into pipeline vandalism, which was why they attacked the NSCDC officials

He added that NSCDC impounded about 20 jerry cans of petroleum products believed to have been stolen by the suspects as well as a pumping machine which they used in siphoning the fuel.

It was learnt that after the NSCDC officials had left, violence broke out again as youths vandalized properties and attacked motorists.

It was learnt that policemen immediately rushed down to the scene and arrested four of the youths.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrest of four persons, adding that they had been transferred to the command’s headquarters.

“There was pandemonium in the area as youths were protesting violently. Policemen rushed down there and arrested four people,” she said.

When questioned about the death of the unidentified person, the Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Kehinde Bada, said she had heard of it but had no details.