An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River State shot a 32-year-old man urinating opposite the Calabar office of the Corps early Wednesday morning.
Nwa-Aba was shot twice in his waist at about 50-metre range by the NSCDC officer yet to be identified.
“He was urinating at a spot when the Civil Defence officer shot him in his waist. He is a labourer at the Petroleum Tanker Driver’s park. He has been rushed to the hospital and we don’t know his condition for now,” an eyewitness said.
“Was he suspected of having any intention to commit a crime? They shot him before knowing that he was only urinating. Even if it was at their gate, he ought not to shoot him. He is not a criminal, he is just answering the call of nature,” another witness said.
Youths in the area began protesting right away but men of the corps dispersed them.
NSCDC spokesman Solomon John said the incident was being investigated.
“We came in this morning (Wednesday) to discover what happened because it happened in the early hours and only officers who were on night duty witnessed it. I can tell you that there is an ongoing investigation,” he said, adding that “the guy is okay” after being rushed to hospital.