Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, was on Wednesday, thrown into chaos as some personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps allegedly shot and killed a woman while attempting to apprehend some hoodlums.
The tragic incident, which occurred while Muslims faithful gathered to observed Eid prayer, immediately sparked outrage and unrest among residents, resulting in escalation of tension in the area.
According to eyewitness, the NSCDC operatives, while pursuing suspected hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons, shot their guns indiscriminately, resulting in a stray bullet killing the innocent woman.
But in their response to the shooting, an angry mob gathered and vented their frustration by setting ablaze an NSCDC vehicle in protest of the incident.
Confirming the incident, Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, said the two NSCDC operatives linked with the shooting are currently in police custody.
Abubakar added that the Zamfara State Police command is still investigating the cause of the incident.
“We have two of them in our custody as we speak now, they are the ones that shot the gun, though the command is still investing the incident,” he said.
But spokesperson of the NSCDC in Zamfara State, Ikor Oche, denied the allegation that the men of the Civil Defence shot the victim.
He said the NSCDC operatives were at their station post observing the movements of the Muslims faithful who were out to observe the Eid prayer when they heard the gunshot.
He added that they then mobilized to the scene where they met a woman fatally injured.
He further said, “Our men were stationed at the central roundabout, close to UBA Bank, they heard a gunshot from the other side around Zenith Bank. They moved to the area and found a woman with gunshot injury.
“Because they were the ones close to the scene, mob descended on them. They had to run for their safety and abandoned their Hilux vehicle. The vehicle was set ablaze by the mob and about seven of our men were injured. They did not shoot or kill anybody.”
Oche said the state command of NSCDC has also launched an investigation to unravel the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, Police have dispersed the mob who were vandalizing the already burnt vehicle of the Civil Defence and normalcy has been restored to the area.