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NSCDC denies shooting vigilante member in Bayelsa community

By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
24 February 2018   |   4:22 am
The authorities of the Bayelsa state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps yesterday denied shooting Perekurofa Odoyibo, a member of Ikarama Vigilance Group in Yenagoa...

The authorities of the Bayelsa state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps yesterday denied shooting Perekurofa Odoyibo, a member of Ikarama Vigilance Group in Yenagoa Local Government of the state. Odoyibo was shot in the arm and leg on Tuesday by suspected operatives of the NSCDC. The operatives were said to have resorted to shooting indiscriminately after an argument ensued between the NSCDC and community folks over the arrest of a female suspect in the absence of her husband.

Wife of the victim, Rebecca, had told newsmen that her husband was shot and left in a pool of blood, claiming that Odoyibo had been in serious pains since the shooting. But reacting, the Commandant, NSCDC, Godwin Nwachukwu, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation. He said the operatives did not fire any gun on said day let alone shooting and injuring anyone. Nwachukwu said Ikarama is notorious for oil theft, pipeline vandalism and the syndicate had always adopted various “devilish strategies” to frustrate the efforts of NSCDC to stop their practices.

He said that despite all the antics of those alleged evil merchants, the corps had continuously remained resolute to ensure an end to economic crimes in the area.

Nwachukwu said the community, not relenting in their plot to frustrate and blackmail their operations, the syndicate whipped up public sentiments and tried to ambush the operatives who returned to the community the next day to arrest the key suspect. Nwachukwu appealed to the people of Ikarama community and other host communities to cooperate with them in the war against pipeline vandalism, stressing that health is more important than the selfish ambition of some evil merchants.

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