The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has refuted claims circulating in certain media outlets regarding the alleged killing of two students at a secondary school in Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The NSCDC asserts that these reports are false and that no fatalities occurred, clarifying that two students sustained unintentional bullet wounds during an incident where warning shots were fired into the air. This action was taken to prevent potential violence by expelled students, suspected to be cult members.
The NSCDC emphasizes that its presence was requested by the school’s management to provide security coverage, as outlined in a letter dated November 21, 2023, and signed by the school’s Director/Principal, Mr. Akinfolajimi Olayinka.
His request was premised on the fact that the school was being terrorized by some criminal elements who always gained access into the school premises by jumping over the perimeter fence.
According to the school authority, the invitation of the Corps became necessary due to the increasing number of notorious students in the school and for the safety of other students and teachers.
“However, on Wednesday, November 29th, the school faced an invasion by notorious elements, including some expelled students and their collaborators, aiming to disrupt the school’s peace and wreak havoc by damaging teachers’ cars in the parking lot.
Armed with cudgels and other dangerous weapons, these hoodlums attacked the unarmed NSCDC personnel, school staff, and students, prompting the call for backup from armed personnel. In the ensuing chaos, two students sustained unintentional bullet wounds when warning shots were fired into the air to prevent potential violence by expelled students suspected of being cult members.
In response to the situation and to prevent further escalation, the NSCDC FCT Commandant informed his police counterpart, who promptly dispatched police officers to the school. Both agencies collaborated to restore normalcy, peace, and order on the school premises.
Upon receiving the incident report, FCT Commandant Odumosu Olusola conducted an assessment tour of the school and visited the two students currently receiving treatment at a government facility.”
Okomanyi further stated that in view of the development, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, in his avowed commitment to professionalism and transparency policing, has ordered the Forensic Psychological Examination Wing of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre to immediately commence evaluation of all armed personnel of the FCT Command.
She added that the Corps management has also set up a panel of inquiry to get to the root of the matter and internal disciplinary mechanisms would be deployed to punish any of the personnel found wanting in the unfortunate incident.
“The NSCDC FCT Command wishes to apologize to the parents/guardians of the two students who were injured unintentionally and promised to pick up the bills incurred in the course of their treatment.
“The Command urges members of the public to disregard reports to the contrary as the Corps remained committed to the Federal Government’s Safe School programme and would not allow miscreants under any guise to breach the peace in our academic environments,” Okomanyi stated.
Contacts have also been established with their parents and it can be authoritatively confirmed that the injured students are in a very stable condition,” it stated.
