The assault of an NSCDC operative in Osogbo by Nigeria Police personnel has been met with disapproval from Igbalawole Sotiyo, the recently assigned Osun State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.
For the benefit of peace, he argued, higher authorities should have the authority to intervene when disputes emerge.
The Public Service Rules, he said, do not permit physical abuse and are the guiding principles for public officials.
A statement was released by the command spokesperson, Adeleke Kehinde, stating that the head of the Osun NSCDC informed AIG Patrick Ogong Edung, who is responsible for Zone 11, during a courtesy visit to Command Headquarters, Osogbo.
When disagreements emerge, Sotiyo said that higher-ups should have the power to mediate a peaceful resolution. The Public Service Rules, or PSR, do not permit physical violence, and they are followed by public officials.
Recognizing that no one security agency can address national security concerns in isolation, AIG Edung expressed his gratitude for the NSCDC chief’s visit and emphasized the significance of interagency cooperation in his answer.
“Senior officers demonstrate strong cooperation and synergy,” he said, “whereas inter-service rivalry predominantly occurs at the rank-and-file level.”
Improving national security should be a top priority, thus he urged all government departments to work together.
The fight between the agencies was also denounced by AIG Edung, who called it a “public disgrace.”
Following Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s directive, he promised an unbiased inquiry.
As previously reported by Gistcon, an altercation broke out at Elizabeth Estate, Osogbo, in late October 2024 between NSCDC members and police officers from the Oyo State Police Command.
According to reports, members of the NSCDC blocked the police officers from making an arrest.
According to the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, the NSCDC members assaulted two officers and damaged the patrol van’s tire.
Adeleke Kehinde, a spokeswoman for the Osun NSCDC, argued that the police officers were unable to authenticate their identities since they were wearing mufti (Ankara).