A police officer was killed and several others were injured in a fatal clash between Nigeria Police Force operatives and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Amaeze community, Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
The Chairman of the Ivo Local Government Council, Emmanuel Ajah, confirmed the occurrence on Wednesday night, saying he had been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer in the region about the terrible conflict between the two sister security organisations.
He said, “I was informed by the DPO that there was a clash involving the police and civil defence officers in the Amaeze community, and unfortunately, one police officer lost his life in the process.”
In an interview with our correspondent on Thursday, an eyewitness from the Amaeze community, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed that the deceased policeman, known only as Shedrack and said to be an Inspector, was accidentally shot by his colleagues.
According to the source, tension erupted when three Hilux vehicles carrying about 30 police officers reportedly crossed and opened fire on an NSCDC truck transporting mining equipment to a site in Amaeze, killing the police officer.
He said, “In the course of the fracas, Shedrack allegedly attempted to disarm a civil defence officer. But when other policemen tried to shoot at the NSCDC operative, they mistakenly hit their colleague, who died on the spot, while some others sustained gunshot injuries.”
The body of the deceased police officer was reportedly put in a mortuary, while those injured were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
As of the time of reporting this article on Thursday, neither the police nor the NSCDC authorities in Ebonyi State have issued any remarks regarding the incident.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")