Suspected Boko Haram Ambushes NSCDC Team, Seven Officials Missing

informantonline.com.ng

November 20, 2024

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have ambushed a monitoring team from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The attack took place on Monday in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, while the team was conducting an inspection of the National Grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State.

In a statement, NSCDC spokesperson DCC Afolabi Babawale revealed that the team, consisting of nine officers and 71 other ranks, had been deployed following recent attacks on power lines, which had caused a power outage in northern Nigeria.

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“As they patrolled vulnerable areas, they encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi Village and allowed them to join the convoy for safety. Unbeknownst to the team, over 200 armed Boko Haram militants had laid a deadly ambush from a hilltop, ready to unleash a torrent of gunfire on the unsuspecting convoy,” he said.

“Determined and resourceful, the NSCDC operatives fought back valiantly, managing to neutralise over 50 insurgents during the exchange. However, the chaos left seven officers unaccounted for, prompting an urgent search in the bush for their whereabouts. Those who sustained injuries are currently receiving medical treatment.”

NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly assault on personnel dedicated to the nation’s defense.

He commended the bravery and resolve of the operatives, highlighting the Corps’ steadfast commitment to protecting vital national assets and infrastructure in the face of escalating security threats.