Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched an ambush on a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) monitoring team, leaving seven officers unaccounted for.
The attack, confirmed by NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale in an official statement, occurred in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Monday.
The NSCDC team, consisting of nine officers and 71 other ranks, had been deployed to inspect power installations in response to recent attacks on power lines that caused widespread blackouts in northern Nigeria.
Babawale explained that during the patrol near Dagwachi village, the team encountered stranded expatriates and invited them to join their convoy for safety.
Unbeknownst to the operatives, over 200 heavily armed Boko Haram militants had positioned themselves atop a hill waiting on the convoy.
The spokesperson detailed the encounter, saying, “As they patrolled vulnerable areas, the team fell into a carefully planned ambush. Despite the overwhelming attack, the operatives demonstrated extraordinary bravery, engaging the insurgents and managing to neutralize over 50 of them during the intense exchange of fire.”
Seven NSCDC officers remained unaccounted for, prompting an urgent and ongoing search operation in the surrounding forest. Several operatives sustained injuries during the confrontation and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident, NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Audi condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act targeting personnel dedicated to national defense. “This reprehensible act will not deter the NSCDC from its unwavering mission to safeguard critical national infrastructure,” he asserted.
Audi also praised the determination of the operatives involved in the clash.
“Our commitment to securing Nigeria’s critical assets and protecting its citizens remains steadfast in the face of these rising security threats,” he added.
