Kaduna, Nigeria – A monitoring team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), tasked with inspecting the National Grid installation, was ambushed by Boko Haram militants on Monday, November 18, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The attack occurred at approximately 3:40 PM as the team was crossing from the Shiroro axis after completing their oversight of the critical infrastructure.
The special monitoring squad, comprising nine officers and 71 other ranks drawn from the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad, FCT Command, and Kaduna State Command, came under heavy fire from over 200 armed insurgents positioned on a hilltop. The attackers targeted the convoy using sophisticated weapons, in what is believed to be a retaliatory mission against security forces.
The NSCDC personnel, however, responded valiantly, repelling the ambush and neutralizing over 50 of the assailants in a fierce firefight. Despite their efforts, seven operatives remain missing, and several others sustained injuries. The injured officers are receiving treatment at a medical facility, while search-and-rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing personnel.
The monitoring team’s mission was part of an initiative set up by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, following recent attacks on the National Grid installations, which had led to a nationwide blackout. The squad was tasked with assessing damage, conducting surveillance, and apprehending vandals responsible for compromising the power infrastructure.
During their patrol, the team encountered expatriates stranded near Dagwachi Village, who had been returning from a mining site in Tutu, Niger State. In an act of goodwill, the operatives allowed the expatriates to join their convoy to ensure their safety through the volatile region. Unbeknownst to them, the terrorists had already laid an ambush in the Farin-Kasa area.
In a statement, Dr. Audi condemned the attack as “callous and unfortunate” but praised the courage and resilience of the operatives in neutralizing the insurgents. He reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s critical national assets and infrastructure, emphasizing that such attacks would not deter their efforts to safeguard the country.
The NSCDC continues to play a leading role in defending vital infrastructure and maintaining national security, even in the face of escalating threats. The Corps remains committed to the federal government’s renewed hope agenda, particularly in stabilizing Nigeria’s power sector.
Efforts are ongoing to provide further updates on the situation as more information becomes available.
Signed:
CSC Babawale Afolabi, Anipr
National Public Relations Officer
NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja
