Suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed a monitoring team from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday, resulting in seven officers being reported missing. The NSCDC team, which consisted of nine officers and 71 other ranks, had been deployed in response to recent attacks on power lines that caused a widespread blackout in northern Nigeria.

The attack occurred in the Farin-Kasa area of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State, while the team was on an inspection mission for the National Grid installation in Shiroro, Niger State. During their patrol, the team encountered stranded expatriates near Dagwachi village and allowed them to join the convoy for safety.

Unbeknownst to the team, over 200 armed Boko Haram militants had positioned themselves on a hilltop, ready to launch an assault. The insurgents unleashed a barrage of gunfire, catching the convoy off guard. In response, the NSCDC operatives fought back fiercely, managing to neutralize more than 50 of the attackers in the exchange of fire. However, the attack’s chaotic nature led to the disappearance of seven officers, prompting an immediate search in the surrounding bush for their whereabouts. The injured personnel are currently receiving medical treatment.

NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale confirmed the attack and expressed concern over the missing officers, while also acknowledging the bravery displayed by the Corps. The NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, strongly condemned the ambush, calling it a cowardly act against personnel dedicated to protecting the nation’s security. He commended the courage of the officers involved and reiterated the NSCDC’s commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure despite the escalating security threats across the country.