There was a pandemonium in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital on Wednesday, as personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly shot and killed a woman while attempting to pursue hoodlums.
The tragic incident, which occurred while Muslims faithful gathered to observed Eid prayer, has sparked outrage and unrest among residents, leading to an escalation of tensions in the area.
Eyewitness narrated that the NSCDC personnel, in their pursuit of suspected hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons, opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent woman.
In response to the shooting, an angry mob gathered and vented their frustration by setting ablaze an NSCDC vehicle in protest of the incident.
Confirming the incident to Channels Television via telephone conversation, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Police in Zamfara State, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said two personnels of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps linked with the shooting are currently in custody of the police.
He said the Zamfara State Police command is still investigating the cause of the incident.
“We have two of them in our custody as we speak now, they are the ones that shot the gun, though the command is still investing the incident.”
When contacted, the Spokesperson of the NSCDC in Zamfara State, Ikor Oche, denied the allegation that the men of the Civil Defence shot the victim.
He said the personnel of the Corps were at their stationed post, observing the movements of the Muslims faithful who were out to observe the Eid prayer when they heard the gunshot.
According to him, they mobilized to the scene where they met a woman fatally injured.
“Our men were stationed at the central roundabout, close to UBA Bank, they heard a gunshot from the other side around Zenith Bank. They moved to the area and found a woman with gunshot injury.
“Because they were the ones close to the scene, mob descended on them. They had to run for their safety and abandoned their Hilux vehicle. The vehicle was set ablaze by the mob and about seven of our men were injured. They did not shoot or kill anybody.”
Oche said the state command of NSCDC has also launched an investigation to unravel the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, men of the Nigerian Police have dispersed the mob who were vandalizing the already burnt vehicle of the Civil Defence and normalcy has been returned in the area. (Channels TV, excluding headline)
