A routine visit by officials of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Company for bill collection turned into a nightmare when a team of officers from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) launched an unprovoked attack yesterday on residents of the Atan Offot community in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 AM, left three citizens critically injured, sparking outrage and calls for justice across the state.
Eyewitnesses explained how the PHED team, led by a man identified only as Daniel, arrived in the community with NSCDC officers to disconnect electricity and confiscate cables from residents.
When one resident demanded the return of his cable, Daniel allegedly used a jack knife handed to him by an NSCDC officer to stab the individual, setting off a chain of violence.
A female NSCDC officer then escalated the situation by opening fire on the community. Kneeling on the ground, she fired multiple rounds, striking bystanders who were not involved in the dispute. Among the injured were a woman hit in the neck, a young man shot in the leg, and a passerby who was wounded in the hand and buttocks.
As panic spread, the PHED team summoned additional police forces to the scene. Instead of restoring order, the police reportedly assisted the NSCDC in rounding up and brutalizing residents. Many were beaten, arrested, and even robbed.
A woman named Abasifreke Godwin Etim, who was selling goods on the roadside, described how NSCDC officers assaulted her and took her purse containing N140,000, which she had intended to use for business purchases.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the “C” Division eventually arrived and intervened. After assessing the situation, he advised the NSCDC officers on proper firearm usage and secured the release of those wrongfully detained. The DPO also collected spent bullet casings from the scene, particularly those fired by the female officer who had threatened to kill more residents. These casings were taken to the police division as evidence for further investigation.
However, in a disturbing attempt to evade responsibility, the female NSCDC officer reportedly faked injuries, making incisions on her body to simulate an attack by the community. Despite this, multiple witnesses and victims provided clear and consistent accounts of the events, which the police have begun to investigate.
One of the victims, Helen Ime Okon, who was shot in the neck, described her terrifying experience from her hospital bed. “I was just bending down to do my chores when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my neck and everything went dark. I don’t remember much after that,” she said, recounting how she was rushed to the hospital by bystanders.
Another victim, Samuel James, was fired upon by the NSCDC officers as he returned home from work. When he attempted to confront the officers, they harassed and handcuffed him, only for the DPO to later order his release after hearing his side of the story.
The attack has drawn strong condemnation from human rights organizations. Clifford Thomas, a prominent Human Rights Lawyer and leader of the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community pledged to pursue justice for the victims. “This act of lawlessness by the NSCDC cannot go unpunished. We will take all necessary legal steps to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Thomas stated.
As the NSCDC attempts to downplay the incident, the community and human rights groups are mobilizing to ensure that the truth is uncovered and that justice is served for the victims of this brutal attack.
Akwa Ibom: Chaos as NSCDC officers unleash unprovoked violence
