A special squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) successfully neutralized 59 bandits during a violent ambush in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday.
The ambush occurred around 3:40 p.m. as the team, returning from patrolling national grid installations in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, was attacked near Farin-Kasa.
According to sources, the convoy, comprising nine officers and 71 personnel from the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad (CG SIS), along with operatives from the FCT and Kaduna State Commands, engaged the heavily armed assailants in an intense firefight.
NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi confirmed the encounter, revealing that seven personnel remain “missing in action.” He explained that the attack took place as the squad crossed from the Shiroro axis, where they had been conducting surveillance to safeguard critical power installations.
This operation was part of a broader initiative to protect Nigeria’s national grid infrastructure, which has been targeted repeatedly by bandits, contributing to frequent power outages.
Afolabi said: “The combined team which embarked on patrol of the National Grid Installation from Shiroro along some flash points and vulnerable areas, however, came across some stranded expatriates in the bush around Dagwachi village axis returning from a mining site at Tutu area of Niger State, that joined the convoy in a bid to protect them through Farin- Kasa Area of Chukun LGA in Kaduna.
“Unknown to them, over 200 armed Boko Haram elements had laid ambushed on a vengeful mission against security operatives who they claimed had been giving them problems. And from the top of a hill located at Farin-Kasa, they opened fire upon sighting the long convoy of the NSCDC monitoring team using different sophisticated weapons.
“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. Seven 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.
“The NSCDC as the leading agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure will not be cowed or be deterred by any attack by terrorist or any group of saboteurs trying to sabotage the efforts of government towards actualizing the renewed hope agenda of Mr. president in ensuring the revival of the power sector for a stable electricity supply nationwide.’
“In the meantime, the Commandant General while awaiting the full brief on the incident from the officers on the field described the attack on NSCDC personnel as callous, unfortunate and an attack too many on security operatives who have sworn to the defence of the country.”
Post A Comment: