Drama As NSCDC Officer, NYSC Member Exchange Blows Over Food At Abuja Event

 There was tension at a event in Abuja when a officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) and a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) engaged in fisticuffs over a disagreement over food.

The Department of Parks and Recreation, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), had organised an event to mark the 2023 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The event was also used to flag off the annual tree planting campaign.

It took the quick intervention of some of the guests, including journalists who were still at the venue, to de-escalate the fracas.

READ ALSO: Wike Poisoned, Liver, Kidney Affected

It was gathered that some other corps members in solidarity with their colleague, were prepared to join their colleague in fighting the NSCDC officer.

The fracas was said to have started when a NSCDC officer, in uniform, allegedly tried to forcefully collect a bag containing packs of rice and drinks from a male youth corps member.

The corps member was to have tried explaining to the officer that the food packs were meant for his colleagues who were officially invited for the event, but he refused to listen.

In the narration of the NYSC member:

“One of the staff called me to go and carry food, so I saw the bag and carried it, but three Civil Defence Officers just came and hijacked the bag from me. I asked them why were they dragging the bag from me because I was made to understand that it’s for NYSC members.

“Before I knew what was happening, one of the NSCDC officers started warning me to be careful and I said ‘is it because of food that you are pointing at me telling me to take time?’

“I told him to take time too, and he said he will beat me, but I told him that he can’t beat me. Before I knew what was happening, he started hitting me, so we started fighting.”

One of the civil defence officers said “It is wrong for this young man, who calls himself a NYSC member, to be dragging food with one of our men. My concern is not even the food but how he was fighting with a uniformed person. I am angry with some of our men who were looking at the whole thing instead of manhandling the guy.”