Robbers have shot some officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos, killing one of them.
The robbers, who numbered about 10, were alleged to have stormed Apapa local government area headquarters where the NSCDC men on duty engaged them in a fierce battle to stop them from gaining entrance into the premises.
The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Lagos Command, Mr. Kayode Olasekun, who disclosed this in a statement, said that during the encouter, two members of the NSCDC, Ufot Daniel and Bassey Onyekachi were shot and are receiving treatment at Apapa Health Centre.
The robbers killed one Gbadamosi Muyideen, a security man with the local government..
In another development, as part of efforts to rid the nation of criminalities as the 2007 general elections approach, the NSCDC has arrested two advance fee fraud (419) kingpins while trying to dupe a Lagos based pastor.
The Deputy Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos Command, Mr Victor Amaso, who disclosed this, said the two suspects, Mr Fatai Babatunde and Jimoh Akinsanya, were arrested in the church while trying to dupe the General Overseer of Unity Power of God Church, Lagos, Prophet Moses Iyanda.
The suspects, according to Amaso, came to worship in the church on Sunday, where they (suspects) entered into a business deal with the pastor.
Suspecting that it was a fraud, the pastor invited the NSCDC operatives, who laid ambush for them, when they were trying to collect the money that they demanded for a business transaction in London and apprehended them.
The suspects, Akinsanya (32) and Babatunde (28), in a chat with the NSCDC officials, confessed that they were pushed into the business by frustration, adding that if given freedom, they would never participate in 419 business again.
Amaso stated that the third suspect, Tunde, who pretended to be an American would be arrested.
He added that “Based on our Act 2003 to maintain peace and ity and rid the nation of all criminal minded people, we have beefed-up our security network around the place.”
He, however, assured Nigerians that no matter what anybody may say, 2007 general elections will be free and fair.