A police officer has been reported killed in a clash between operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi Command and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The incident occurred on Wednesday at the disputed Mboro Ajaenyim quarry site in Amaeze community, Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
The clash followed alleged forceful entry into the quarry site by Hephziba and Beulah Concepts Limited, which reportedly mobilised heavy equipment to the area without the consent of the host community.
Mr Ogbonna Nwaeni, Chairman of Amaeze Development Union (ADU), confirmed the incident our correspondent on Thursday in Abakaliki.
Nwaeni said the community was taken aback when the quarry operators allegedly gained access to the site with the support of Civil Defence personnel and some suspected dissident youths.
According to him, the development prompted him to alert the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, who dispatched SWAT operatives to the scene.
“Information available to me confirmed that both security agencies went confrontational in their approaches, leading to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in the death of a police officer.
“The Hephziba and Beulah Concepts brought in equipment into the quarry site without meeting with the community leadership or landowners.
“They also came in with Civil Defence personnel who provided security cover, alongside some dissident youths that threatened to shoot any indigenes who attempted to obstruct the operations,” he said.
He added that he reached out to the police command to prevent bloodshed in the community before the tragic incident occurred.
Also reacting, a community leader, Dr Gilbert Aro, condemned the clash and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the officer’s death.
A representative of Hephzibah and Beulah who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the killing of the police officer but provided no further details.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Ebonyi Command, Ms Emmanuella Ibeneme, an Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASC) confirmed the incident stressing that a police officer was killed while two civilians sustained gunshot injuries and are being hospilised.
Ibeneme said that investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the cause of the imcident.
“We are the security agency in charge of protecting critical national assets including mining sites and our men were deployed to provide security to the company owned by the Chinese.
“The men of the SWAT, Nigeria Police were drafted to the area; the information we received is that altercation ensued between the agencies leading to exchange of gun shots resulting in the death of a police officer and injury of two civilians.
” Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of the sad incident to establish culpability,” Ibeneme said.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ebonyi, DSP Joshua Ukandu, has confirmed the death and said that investigation was ongoing to unravel the motive behind the obstruction of police sent to carryout lawful order leading to an officer’s death.
“Ebonyi Police arrested an NSCDC officer who obstructed lawful arrest at Ivo, attempted to seize a rifle and fatally shot a policeman.
“Investigation is ongoing; command warns against obstructing police duties,” Ukandu said.
The clash has heightened tension in Amaeze, where ownership and operational rights over the quarry site have remained contentious between the host community and quarry operators. ENDS//
