Gunmen Reportedly Kill Four NSCDC Operatives In Rivers

Four operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were killed by gunmen suspected of being pirates at Snake Creek in Buguma, Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The attackers ambushed the operatives on the river in the early hours of Friday, November 3, 2023, according to reports.

A video posted online shows the NSCDC’s corpses bundled in a boat floating on the river bank.

Abdulaziz Jimah, Chibuzo, and Chief Priest were named as three of the officers.

Two of the fatalities were reportedly buried according to Islamic rituals, while the bodies of the others were put at an unidentified hospital mortuary.

The NSCDC’s State Command has yet to respond to the event.

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Meanwhile, several media outlets stated that the incident occurred in the state’s Bakana hamlet, Degema Local Government Area.

However, the Bakana community leadership, led by His Royal Highness, King Lawrence O.O. Odum Barboy, Paramount Ruler (Amabibi VIII, Odum Barboy IX), Amanyanabo of Bakana in Degema Local Government Area, has refuted the story.

“The claim that the incident happened in Bakana is false and misleading. We are greatly displeased and disturbed that this unverified report has portrayed the Community in bad light,” the monarch said in a statement on Saturday, November 4.

“The alleged killing which security agencies could not authenticate its veracity did not happen within the Bakana territory. For the avoidance of doubt, there are no presence of NSCDC personnel in Bakana Community let alone its checkpoint that was allegedly attacked by hoodlums.

“It is instructive to state that Bakana has witnessed improved security in the recent time with our homegrown security measures which has significantly curb insecurity in our domain.

“It is therefore out of place and unacceptable for anyone to make such an unverified claim that 4 personnel of the NSCDC were allegedly killed in Bakana Community without verifying from the Leadership of the Community.

“We therefore advise the Media to always cross check their fact properly before going to press to avoid the negative effect of false and misleading information.”