Tanker Driver shot at by NSCDC officials over refusal to offer bribe

Lawal Amobi, a tanker driver have been reported to have suffered a gunshot injury because of his refusal to give a N5,000 bribe to some operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command.
The corps operatives were also accused of robbing the driver of two phones and a sum of N32, 000, while his manager was dispossessed of N48, 000.

It was learnt that the men had flagged down a diesel-laden tanker driven by Amobi around 6pm on Friday along Wilmer Road, Ajegunle, and asked him to produce his waybill and an operating licence issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources.

Amobi said he tendered the waybill and pleaded with them that the DPR licence was not with him. Upon the official's insistence on seeing the license, he called the manager, who brought a photocopy of the licence.

He said, “But the NSCDC officials were not satisfied with it. The manager explained to them that it was what the company gave us. Their team leader refused to release the waybill and requested N5,000 from us.

“We told them that our documents were complete. The manager begged them with N500. They collected the money and entered into their van with the waybill and the DPR licence. We told them there was still diesel in the truck and we had to tender the waybill if any other security agent stopped us. They just zoomed off.

“As we were following them on a motorcycle, I called the chairman of a depot in Coconut, where I loaded the product. I explained what happened to the chairman and he said we should follow them to their office.

“As we followed their van, we begged them. They suddenly parked on the Mile 2 Bridge and came down from the vehicle. When he saw the anger on their faces, the motorcycle rider sped off. They attacked me with blows, boots and the butts of their rifles. They vowed to kill us. One of them collected a Techno phone I was using to make calls, while another dipped his hand into my pocket, took my second phone, iPhone 4, and the N32,000 on me.”

Amobi said they followed them to Lacasera bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, where they met another driver being dealt with by another team of the corps.

He said the operatives unleashed another round of terror on him and the manager, adding that they had to run for dear lives when the beating became unbearable.

“We managed to escape from them. They started shooting at us. We didn’t get their names because there were no name tags on them. But we were able to get the number plate of their vehicle – CD 167 A01.

“That evening, we reported the matter at the Trinity Police Station. The policemen promised to write to the NSCDC commandant in the state and told us to come back on Monday. When we went back on Monday, they told us to report at the station whenever we see any of those officials,” he added.

it was learnt that NSCDC Lagos command spokesman, Kehinde Bada, on Wednesday urged the victims to formally report the case at the command for proper investigation.

NSCDC operatives have been previously accused of extorting tanker drivers and petrol station attendants in Benue state. The command’s headquarters promised an investigation but nothing has been heard of its outcome.