Tension was high in Amaeze community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following a clash between men of the Nigeria Police Force and their counterparts from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC which resulted in the death of one police officer.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Chairman of Ivo LGA, Chief Aja Emmanuel, said that he got a report from the Divisional Police Office that there was a fracas between the police and NSCDC officers in which one policeman was shot dead.
“The DPO informed me 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, though I am yet to get the full details of the incident,” Ajah said.
Eyewitnesses from Amaeze community, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the deceased policeman, identified simply as Shedrack, may have been mistakenly shot by his colleagues.
According to the source, tension erupted when three Hilux vans conveying about 30 policemen reportedly double-crossed and opened fire on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) van conveying mining equipment to a site in Amaeze, resulting in the killing of the police officer.
“In the course of the fracas, Shedrack allegedly attempted to disarm a civil defence officer. But when other policemen tried to shoot at the NSCDC operative, they mistakenly hit their colleague, who died on the spot, while some others 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.
The police and NSCDC authorities in Ebonyi are yet to issue official statements on the incident as of press time.
