Marauding gunmen, numbering about fifty, have invaded the Nasarawa State Local Government Civil Service Commission, Northcentral Nigeria, confiscating one AK 47 riffle from personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were deployed to safeguard the Commission.
The raid on the Commission came barely three months after armed robbers invaded the State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning in Lafia, and catered away millions of Naira.
The NSCDC men were overpowered on their duty post at the Commission’s office headquarters located along Makurdi road, Lafia, the State capital.
The bandits also stormed inside the Civil Service Commission offices, carting away two televisions and a safe box containing valuable documents of the Commission.
Sources confirmed that the two NSCDC personnel and one other security man, who were on duty on the day of the incident, were tied by the gunmen before carrying out their operation which lasted for about three hours.
An official of the Commission confirmed that the raid on the Commission took place on Monday morning. However, no life was lost but regretted that only valuables were carted away.
The Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Commission, Mrs Rammatu Julde, said the gunmen invaded the premises on Monday at about 2:am.
“Some gunmen invaded our premises in the early hours of Monday at 2am to be precise.
“They came through the main gate linking the local government commission and civil service commission and during the operation, they were able to tie down two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who were guarding the premises and collected their Ak-47 guns.”
“They attempted to take away our 150 KVA generator, but they could not succeed but they took away the safe where valuable documents of the commission were kept, she said.
“We are presently doing the stocktaking to know other items that were carted away,” she added.
The Public Relations Officer of the NSDC, Mr Jerry Victor, also confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
According to him, the gunmen came to the premises and unfortunately carried out their plans without any hindrance.
“Two of our officers who were securing the offices were tied down with ropes and they collected their Ak-47 gun.
“The officers have been detained in our command headquarters here in Lafia and investigation is currently ongoing.”