On December 2, 2023, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), numbering about 11, physically assaulted Mr. Izunna Okafor, a reporter with the online news portal, https://247ureports.com/. They kicked him and hit him several times with the butt of their guns.
Izuna disclosed that while returning to Awka, the Anambra State capital from the venue of the Soludo Ambassadors’ Anambra South Rally in Nnewi in the same vehicle with officers of the NSCDC, his phone fell from his pocket in the vehicle before he disembarked from the bus.
He said before he could be allowed to alight where disembarked, he had to raise his voice and when the bus eventually stopped, he realized that one of his phones had fallen from his pocket. He said he informed the driver that his phone had fallen and that he needed to retrieve it, one of the operatives attached to the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) ordered the driver to speed off, and then intentionally slammed the door of the bus close, leaving him with severe hand injuries.
He said though he was in pain, he had to board a commercial vehicle to the place where the Civil Defence officers said would be the last bus stop.
According to him, when he got to the place, he sought for an explanation from the officer who slammed the door on his hand but the officer challenged him asking him what gave him the boldness to ask such question from him, a uniformed and armed man. He said as the officer raised his voice at him, he also cocked his gun while his colleagues descended on him.
The reporter said some of the Civil Defence officers also cocked their guns and even threatened to shoot him while beating him.
He said it took the intervention of Mr. Ossy Onuko, the Managing Director of the ACTDA to stop their assault on him, adding that the Civil Defence officers continued threatening him and vowed to track him and further deal with him. He said the officers further boasted that no one can stop them from unleashing their mayhem on him as anyone who attempts to do so should first care for their welfare before advising them.
When the State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, Mr. Edwin Osuala, heard of the incident, he ordered a probe into the assault.
