A female officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has died after she was struck and run over by one of the agency’s operational vehicles during a simulation exercise in Abuja.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning during a coordinated show-of-force drill in the Federal Capital Territory. The development was confirmed by the NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
Although the officer’s identity had not been officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report, multiple sources confirmed that she sustained fatal injuries during a convoy manoeuvre exercise.
Eyewitnesses said the officers were demonstrating operational movement with patrol vehicles when one of the vans rammed into the female officer during a sharp turn. A source familiar with the incident stated that the tragedy occurred while the convoy was executing a force demonstration.
Footage circulating on social media captures the moment of the accident. In the video obtained by NewsNGR, two operational vehicles are seen participating in the demonstration. A black van with red wheels is observed making a sharp turn at speed in an open area before confusion erupts within the convoy formation.
Witnesses said the officer was either knocked down during the manoeuvre or may have fallen from a moving vehicle, possibly from an unsecured door, before becoming trapped beneath one of the van’s tyres.
The vehicle eventually came to a halt as colleagues and bystanders rushed to the scene. Graphic footage shows officers and civilians scrambling to lift the vehicle in a desperate attempt to free her. Several men are seen physically raising the van to pull the trapped officer from underneath the tyre.
Emergency responders arrived shortly afterwards and evacuated her to a hospital in an ambulance. However, she was later confirmed dead.
Confirming the fatality, Babawale said the corps had initiated internal procedures in response to the incident.
“It is true we lost a personnel during the simulation exercise. Our senior officers are on their way to the residence of the deceased to pay our condolences,” he said.
He added that a detailed statement would be issued to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and outline the steps being taken by the agency.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the NSCDC or the FCT Police Command providing a comprehensive account of the accident.
The incident has sparked concerns over safety protocols during simulation exercises and the adequacy of protective measures for personnel involved in such operational drills.
Leave a Comment