Opadele Abdulkabeer 
An incident occurred on June 21 at the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State. NSCDC officials assaulted MF Oyetunji, an officer from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), despite Oyetunji being in his official uniform and performing his duties. This incident highlights the need for improved collaboration among Nigeria’s security agencies to effectively address the existing security challenges.
According to Oyetunji’s account of the incident to The Informant247, he and other senior FRSC officials apprehended a driver of a Toyota Solara for traffic rule violations near Garage Offa. The driver was found to have violated various traffic rules, such as not wearing a seat belt and failing to provide the necessary car documents. Additionally, he presented a fake driver’s license. Oyetunji was instructed by his superior to impound the vehicle at the ‘A’ Division Police Station. However, the situation took a negative turn when the driver deceitfully drove the car to the NSCDC office near the Post Office in Ilorin.
Despite Oyetunji’s refusal, the driver went inside the NSCDC premises, leaving Oyetunji outside. It was later discovered that the driver had an elder brother who served as an NSCDC officer, raising concerns that the impoundment of the vehicle could be hindered.
The driver, upon reaching the NSCDC office, did not find his brother there. After a phone conversation between the driver and his brother, another NSCDC officer on duty was approached. This led to a confrontation between Oyetunji and the NSCDC officer, who demanded the return of the car key and for Oyetunji to leave the driver alone. Oyetunji refused, leading to the intervention of the Commandant of the NSCDC in Kwara State.
After the commandant instructed Oyetunji to return the key, Oyetunji stood firm, as complying would go against their rules and may result in disciplinary action. However, after the commandant returned to his office, several NSCDC officers, some of whom were not in uniform, physically assaulted Oyetunji, despite him being in his official uniform.
During the assault, another senior NSCDC officer, Mr. O.A Yusuf, intervened to defuse the situation. One of the officers involved in the assault was identified as Gobir, who claimed that Oyetunji was harassed for not complying with the commandant’s request to return the car key.
When the assault was reported to the commandant, he dismissed it, claiming that Oyetunji had shown disrespect by refusing to return the key initially. Eventually, a senior FRSC officer took possession of the key from Oyetunji and gave it to the driver.
Oyetunji concluded by stating that no one faced consequences for the assault he endured.
When contacted for a reaction, Ayeni Olasunkanmi, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Kwara State command, stated that the issue had been resolved and declined to provide further information, considering it an inter-agency matter not suitable for public disclosure.
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