The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has expressed deep regret over the death of a female officer during a simulation exercise at its headquarters in Abuja on Saturday.
Corps Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the NSCDC family was devastated by the incident and disclosed that arrangements were ongoing to give the deceased a befitting burial.
Afolabi told our correspondent that a high-powered delegation of senior officers had been dispatched to commiserate with the family. He explained that the incident occurred in the open during a routine simulation on the parade ground and could not have been concealed from public view.
He added that the Corps delayed issuing a public statement out of respect for the family, pending proper consultation.
Confirming the circumstances, the spokesman said the officer died in an accident during a parade ground display. He described the drill as a longstanding routine simulation conducted periodically for personnel training.
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While declining to provide further details at the time of the interview, he noted that the incident occurred during a simulation display by the Corps’ Female Strike Force.
However, footages of the incident seen by our Correspondent revealed the moment a black operational van with red wheels, bearing the inscription “Female Squad,” was moving with a second van, marked “Female Strike Force FCT Command,” following behind.
The NSCDC officer died after being crushed by one of the operational vans involved in the display. The van mistakenly ran over her, pinning her underneath.
It was learnt that when she was eventually pulled out from under the van, it was obvious that she could not survive the tragedy.
While Babawale said top officials of the Corps were already with the family on arrangements for a befitting burial, he noted that the Corps would provide detailed statement on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
