Four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists at Galadiman Kogo in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The terrorists also killed six residents of the town during an earlier night raid on Sunday.
The spokesperson of NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, confirmed the death of the officials on Monday from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
“A bomb explosion has rocked an operational vehicle of the Niger State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, killing four personnel instantly,” Mr Odumosu said.
“The driver of the vehicle sustained very serious injuries during the blast and had been rushed to the hospital where he is currently battling for his life.
“The explosion occured along Galadiman Kogo axis in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State at the early hours of Monday morning, involving some officers and men of NSCDC Niger Command attached to Shiroro HYDRO Power Station, Shiroro, Niger State.
Mr Odumosu said the officials were “on a routine patrol in the early hours of Monday morning when their patrol vehicle stepped on a buried land mine which exploded immediately killing all occupants except the driver who is currently in a very critical condition.”
He identified the deceased personnel as: ASC I Mohammed Ibrahim; ASC II Cheche Ahmed; IC Yunusa Mahmam; and CAI BALA Abdullahi.
The driver identified as “Inspector Bala Adamu is currently in the hospital receiving treatment,” the official said.
“The Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, has commiserated with families of the deceased officers and men who paid the supreme price in service to the nation and reassured residents of Niger of the Corp’s resolve and commitment to the security of lives and property of Nigerians without deterrence, the statement said.
Also the Niger State Government, while commiserating with the entire people of Shiroro local government area, particularly the affected communities, said Governor Abubakar Bello would take every necessary step to assuage the sufferings of the affected people by providing humanitarian interventions.