A team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in charge of monitoring national grid installation in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State was ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists on Monday, November 18.
The NSCDC national spokesperson, CSC Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Tuesday, said the attack happened at 3:40 PM in Farin-Kasa, Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, as the team was returning from a surveillance mission.
Afolabi stated that the convoy comprised nine officers and 71 personnel from the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, and the Kaduna State Command.
While on patrol, the team encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi Village who joined the convoy for protection. Unknown to them, over 200 Boko Haram insurgents had laid an ambush in Farin-Kasa, positioned on a hilltop, and opened fire on the convoy with sophisticated weapons.
The statement read in part, “The Combined NSCDC operatives in the ambush however, not overwhelmed by terrorists, repelled the attack and successfully neutralized over 50 of the terrorists in the crossfire. As at the time of filling this report, about 7 operatives of the NSCDC are currently missing in action and efforts are currently underway to locate them in the bush, while a few others who sustained various degrees of Injuries are currently undergoing medical treatment in a medical facility.”
Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General of the NSCDC, described the attack as “callous and unfortunate”.
He reiterated the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding all critical national assets and Infrastructure without compromise and advancing government efforts to stabilize the power sector.
He also commended the courage, resilience and gallantry of the operatives in neutralising over 50 of the bandits.