By Akakan Umoh
Human Rights Community in Akwa Ibom has bared its fangs against Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Company for allegedly sponsoring acts of aggression and near murder against some residents of Atan Offot community in Uyo.
Addressing the press in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital on Wednesday, Clifford Thomas, Coordinator of Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community said on 15 August, 2024, PHED’s team led by one Mr. Daniel using some personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) descended on the hapless residents.
According to him, ‘‘The NSCDC personnel led by a female personnel, opened fire from the assault rifle she borne, indiscriminately into the community. Several persons were injured by gunshot wounds, one, catching a woman in the neck; another one in the lag, and another who could not be tracked till now, on the hand and buttocks.
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‘‘Several expended shells were recovered from the scene by the police. And the shells are still with the police. Showing maturity and civility, the NSCDC hierarchy in Akwa Ibom State Command, has shown good faith and some degree of pro-activeness in response to the intervention of the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, by first, releasing innocent persons indiscriminately arrested by the Service.’’
The legal practitioner narrated that ‘‘The State Commandant opened discussions with the community, to begin the process of healing the hurt. But the PHED is still aggressively attacking and preventing persons in the community from enjoying power installations in the community. It was in the course of carting away his electric cable that, Mr. Daniel who was given an assault jack knife by personnel of the NSCDC to stab anyone who came close to him, and that resistance ensued.
It was at this point that the PHED official, a certain Mr. Daniel, directed the NSCDC personnel to open fire, shooting indiscriminately into peoples’ and business premises, stray bullets caught some persons: a lady was caught in the neck by a stray bullet, though she was lucky that the bullet was not lodged in her neck.
The second person, a young man was shot pointblank on the feet. The third person whom we are informed was shot in the hand and the buttocks, could not be found, as he was said to have left the hospital where he was receiving medical attention. The female personnel who started the shootings before her male counterpart joined the fray, returned to her office, with an injury to her face, claiming that the community people shot her.
‘‘This is a lie to cover up her murderous act, and got the State Command of the NSCDC to claim that their personnel was injured, forum-shopping for a cause of act, to make herself the victim of her tyranny, and attempt at killing persons in the community.
When the DPO “C” Division arrived at the scene, and observed some breach of procedural protocol, personnel of the NSCDC showed total disrespect, stating that he was not under any obligation to receive directives from the Police. The Police was able to recover expended shell of bullets fired from the assault rifles of the NSCDC, and close to 25 of those shell have been recovered from various locations and parts of the community. These evidences are with the Police.’’
Thomas stated that ‘‘The NSCDC has never had any infraction with the community, but it is the PHED staff that caused the incident that to lead to the shootings, injuries, trauma and near-death situations. The said Mr. Daniel, the PHED staff, has vowed to disconnect people and cart away their cables, to further incite the people to anger.
‘‘He boasted that if the NSCDC refused to send armed personnel, he will procure the police to effect this unlawful purpose.’’
The Human Rights Coordinator, therefore, called on the authorities to expedite actions and get justice for the people of Atan Offot and other communities in Akwa Ibom State, particularly, the ones affected by stray bullets.
