Seven officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant-General’s Critical Infrastructure Monitoring Team have gone missing following a deadly ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The attack occurred on Monday, November 18, in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, as the team was returning from a surveillance mission to a power installation site in neighboring Niger State.
In a statement signed by the NSCDC’s national spokesperson, DCC Afolabi Babawale, the team—comprising nine officers and 71 other ranks—was deployed to secure critical national infrastructure following recent attacks on power lines that caused widespread blackouts in northern Nigeria.
Acting on intelligence, they were tasked with assessing damages and reinforcing the facility against further vandalism.
“As they patrolled vulnerable areas, the team encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi Village and allowed them to join the convoy for safety. Unbeknownst to them, over 200 heavily armed Boko Haram militants had positioned themselves on a hilltop, ready to unleash a deadly ambush,” the statement read.
DCC Afolabi added that despite being outnumbered, the NSCDC operatives fought valiantly and managed to neutralize over 50 insurgents. “Determined and resourceful, our operatives put up a brave fight. However, the chaos left seven officers unaccounted for, and a search is ongoing to locate them. Those injured are receiving medical attention,” he stated.
Condemning the attack, NSCDC Commandant-General Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi described it as a cowardly act against personnel dedicated to national security.
He praised the operatives for their courage and resilience. “This attack underscores the complex challenges our security agencies face. Despite these cowardly acts, we remain resolute in our mission to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure,” Audi said.
The Commandant-General assured the public that the Corps remains steadfast in its efforts to protect Nigeria’s power sector and ensure stable electricity supply, even as the search for the missing officers intensifies.
“We will not be deterred by these threats. Our commitment to fortify the nation’s infrastructure is unwavering,” he added.
