A personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was on Thursday stabbed to death in Oke-Ala, Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, after a mentally unstable youth turned violent while officers attempted to restrain him.
Residents said the tragedy unfolded when the suspect’s mother sought help from two NSCDC operatives to calm her son, who had long battled mental instability and had become a source of worry to neighbours.
It was learnt that the officers were trying to place the youth in chains to stop further disturbance when the situation spiralled out of control.
In the struggle that followed, the young man reportedly overpowered one of the operatives, grabbed his knife and attacked him multiple times.
“The boy suddenly became violent. He struggled with the officer, took his knife and stabbed him several times,” an eyewitness recounted.
“It was shocking because the officer was even armed, yet he could not prevent the attack.”
The officer, who was rushed to the hospital, died from the injuries sustained in the assault.
NSCDC spokesman in the state, DSC Daniel Aidamenbor, confirmed the incident, explaining that the officers were on a mission to restrain the suspect and take him to a psychiatric hospital for proper care when the attack occurred.
He added that the fatal encounter happened while the operatives were working to safeguard the community and the suspect himself.