‘It was unintentional’ — NSCDC speaks on shooting incident in Abuja school

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reacted to reports of its personnel shooting two students of Junior Secondary School, Life Camp, in the federal capital territory (FCT).

There were reports that NSCDC personnel shot at the students on Wednesday, causing enraged students to vandalise three patrol vehicles belonging to the corps.

In a statement on Friday signed by Comfort Okomanyi, its spokesperson, the NSCDC said its FCT command was invited to the school by Akinfolajimi Olayinka, the principal, to provide security.

She said the request was sequel to the school being terrorised by some persons who always gained access by scaling the perimeter fence.

“However, on Wednesday 29th November, the school was invaded by some notorious elements, some of whom were expelled students and their student collaborators to disturb the peace of the school and caused mayhem by destroying cars belonging to the teachers at the parking lot,” the statement reads.

“Armed with cudgels and other dangerous weapons, some of the hoodlums had launched attack on the deployed unarmed NSCDC personnel, staff and students of the school which necessitated the call for a back up by armed personnel.

“In the melee that followed, two (2) students sustained bullet wounds unintentionally when warning shots were fired into the air in an attempt to prevent carnage by some notorious ex-students who were suspected cult members that had been expelled from the school.”

The spokesperson said to prevent an escalation, the NSCDC invited the police.

She said contrary to reports, the two students were not killed and are now in stable conditions.

FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY

The spokesperson said Ahmed Audi, commandant-general of the NSCDC, has ordered the forensic psychological examination wing of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, to immediately commence evaluation of all armed personnel of the FCT Command.

“Also, the Corps management has set up a panel of inquiry to get to the root of the matter and internal disciplinary mechanisms would be deployed to punish any of the personnel found wanting in the unfortunate incident,” the statement reads.

“The NSCDC FCT Command wishes to apologize to the parents/guardians of the two students who were injured unintentionally and promises to pick up the bills incurred in the course of their treatment.

“The Command urges members of the public to disregard reports to the contrary as the Corps remained committed to the Federal Government’s Safe School programme and would not allow miscreants under any guise to breach the peace in our academic environments.”