NSCDC officer, NYSC member fight over food at FCTA event
A confrontation erupted between a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer and a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at a Department of Parks and Recreation event on Saturday.
The event, organized by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), was held to observe the 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and launch the annual tree planting campaign.
The clash could have escalated further if it hadn’t been for the swift intervention of several attendees, including journalists who were still present at the venue, while other officers stood ready to assist in defusing the situation.
The ceremony took place at the Department’s office, situated within the military protected area of Asokoro, and attracted a large crowd of guests. However, many attendees left the event feeling frustrated as they discovered that the department’s staff had withheld the food and drinks meant to entertain them.
The fight ensued when an NSCDC officer, on uniform attempted to forcefully collect a bag containing packs of rice and drinks, from a male youth corper.
The corper who pleaded anonymity, said he tried to explain to the officer that the food packs were meant for his colleagues who were officially invited for the event, but he refused to listen.
The angry corper said, “one of the staff called me to go and carry food, so I saw the bag and carried it, three Civil Defence Officers just came and hijacked the bag from me, I asked them why they are dragging the bag from me because I was made to know that it is for NYSC members.
“Before I know what was happening, one of the NSCDC Officers started warning me to be careful and I said because of food you are pointing at me telling me to take time,
“I told him too, to take time, and he said he will beat me, but I told him that he can’t beat me. Before I know what was happening, he started hitting me, so we started fighting,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the Civil Defence Officers, said “it is wrong for this young man, who call himself an NYSC member to be dragging food with one of our men.
“ He is wearing NYSC uniform but can’t express himself in the public, yet he has the guts to disrespect civil defence official because of food, and our people were just looking at them.This is bad,
“My concern is not even the food but how he was fighting with a uniform person. I am angry with some of our men who were looking at the whole thing instead of manhandling the guy,” he added.
