07 December 2015, Lagos — The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has arrested an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Charles Atileka, and six others for allegedly transporting 12,375 litres of Petrol Motor Spirit, PMS, illegally to Benin Republic.
Others were Jimoh Olusegun, 30; Fashawo Kobla, 37; Akapo Joseph, 17; Amos Bakom, 18; Francis Johnson, while Bederaa Isaac, 33, is a Togolese.
Vanguard gathered that Atileka, who was attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Francis Johnson and another, sustained injury during the gun battle that lasted for about an hour.
It was learned that the bunkerers were arrested in Gberefun community, a border community in Badagry, while transporting the 496 gallons of 25-litre to neighbouring countries.
Speaking after parading the bunkerers, NSCDC Lagos State Commandant, Gabriel Abafi, said an AK-47 with Nigerian Police emblem and a pistol were recovered from the suspects after the duel.
He said: “The emblem indicated that no junior police officer can handle such guns.”
Abafi explained that the suspects, including the police officer, were arrested by a team of the Anti-Vandal Unit of Corps at 2 am. last Wednesday.
His words: “The suspects were caught around Badagry axis after a tip off that they were loading the products from Badagry to Cotonou. On getting there, we arrested the boat.”
While the boat was still on shore, he said the police officer arrived and attacked the NSCDC officers with the aim of retrieving the products.
He said: “It was during the exchange of gun fire between the officials of the corps and the suspects that they were wounded, including the police officer.
“We immediately rushed the wounded suspects to the Badagry hospital because we want them alive not dead. But we were advised to transfer them to Ikeja due to the solitary nature of the community,” he added.
- Vanguard