7 personnel missing as NSCDC special squad neutralizes 59 bandits in Kaduna

A special squad from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) neutralized 59 bandits following an ambush in Kaduna State on Monday.

The incident unfolded at approximately 3:40 p.m. when the team, returning from a patrol of national grid installations in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, came under heavy attack near Farin-Kasa in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sources revealed that the convoy, composed of nine officers and 71 other ranks from the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad (CG SIS), alongside operatives from the FCT and Kaduna State Commands, engaged the assailants in a fierce gun battle.

Corps Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, confirmed the encounter and reported that seven NSCDC personnel were still “missing in action” at the time of this update. He explained that the ambush occurred while the squad was crossing from the Shiroro axis after conducting surveillance of critical installations.

This operation was part of a broader initiative following frequent national grid collapses, attributed to repeated attacks on power infrastructure by bandits.

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.”