Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and private security operatives attached to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, branch in Awka, Anambra State, were involved in a heated confrontation at Weather Head Estate in Awka, causing panic among residents.
According to sources, the private security operatives, led by the Chief Security Officer of the CBN branch in Awka, confronted NSCDC officers who were reportedly carrying out a legitimate operation to rescue a missing child.
Reports said the NSCDC operatives had gone to the estate following a petition concerning a four-year-old child who was allegedly taken from her nursery school in Awka without the permission of her guardian.
The child’s parents were said to be estranged, with the child living under the care of her father. This reportedly raised suspicion that the mother may have arranged the child’s removal from school.
The NSCDC operatives reportedly tracked the child to a building within the estate and were preparing to rescue her when a man identified as the Chief Security Officer of the CBN branch allegedly arrived in a sky-blue Lexus RX 330 SUV and stopped the operation before taking the child away.
A resident of the estate said the incident created serious tension as both groups of security operatives confronted each other while armed.
The source said, “The incident happened in my estate and generated a huge tension as both sides of the security men challenged each other, with guns corked.
“Many people in the residential estate took to their heels, hiding far away from the incident to avoid being caught up in a shootout.”
Attempts to reach the Head of Media and Tactical Operations of the NSCDC Anambra Command, Okadigbo Edwin, for confirmation were unsuccessful.
Reports also stated that the Anambra State command of the NSCDC has written to the Awka branch of the CBN concerning the conduct of the Chief Security Officer and requested an investigation into the incident, insisting that its operatives were carrying out lawful duties.
