The power tussle between the Nigeria Police Force and the newly inaugurated Peace Corps has taken a new dimension following the raiding and arresting of the national Commandant of the corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh.
Akoh was reportedly arrested close to midnight, on Tuesday, after the police raided the national headquarters of the corps, in Abuja.
The corps, a youth-based organisation, came into force after it was given a nod by the National Assembly through a bill that was passed, but the police had allegedly kicked against the granting it a go-ahead to operate.
A training facility belonging to the Peace Corps in Kwara and Abuja had earlier been raided and shut by the police.
Earlier on Tuesday when the corps was being formally inaugurated in the presence of the Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Solomon Dalung, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers, religious bodies and youth organisations, the police joined other security agencies to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the success of the event.
Hours later, the raid was reportedly carried out.
“We don’t know where they have taken him to,” the report quoted a source within the corps as saying adding that Akoh was taken to the FCT command of the Nigeria Police.
The reason for his arrest has not been given. The police is also yet to issue an official position concerning the incident at the time of this report.