NSCDC Team Ambushed By Boko Haram During Monitoring Of National Grid In Shiroro

• Operatives  Arrest Five Suspected Vandals in Abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)’s monitoring team for the National Grid Installation located in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have come under a heavy attack by the Boko Haram insurgency group.

This happened just as the operatives of the  security agency arrested five suspects for vandalising Critical National Assets and Infrastructure  in Abuja

According to a statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale, the Shiroro incident occurred at about 15.40 hours when the convoy of the special monitoring squad comprising nine officers and 71 other ranks drawn from the Commandant General Special Intelligence Squad (CG SIS), operatives, FCT Command and Kaduna State Command respectively, were ambushed at Farin- Kasa Area of Chukun LGA in Kaduna State on Monday,
while crossing from the Shiroro axis after the surveillance and monitoring oversight of the installations.

Babawale recalled that the nation experienced a total blackout recently due to the collapse of the National Grid as a result of incessant attacks on the facilities by bandits and vandalism of the installation by the same group of people, which led to the setting up of the Special Monitoring Squad by the Commandant General (CG), Dr Ahmed Audi to assess the state of damage, conduct surveillance activities and possibly arrest and bring perpetrators to book.

He 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.

He noted that unknown to them, over 200 dreaded armed Boko Haram elements had laid ambushed on a vengeful mission against security operatives who they claimed had been giving them problems. 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.

He revealed that 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. At the time of filling this report, about 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.

Babawale said the NSCDC as the leading agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure will not be cowed or deterred by any attack by terrorists 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.

He revealed that 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 on too many security operatives who have sworn to the defence of the country.

He reiterated the Corp’s commitment to safeguarding all critical national assets and Infrastructure without compromise and commended the courage, resilience and gallantry of the operatives in neutralising over 50 of the bandits despite the attack from the mountaintop, affirming that the Corps is proud of them and would never forget such unflinching commitment.

Vandalised items

Meanwhile, operatives of the security agency earlier arrested five suspects for vandalising Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in Abuja.

Briefing journalists at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command headquarters in Abuja while parading the suspects, the FCT  Commandant, Dr Olusola Odumosu said the five suspects were arrested with a full truckload of vandalized items at Dei Dei -U-Turn by Mopol barracks last Saturday after resisting arrest at Aso Radio, Katampe axis by speeding off.

Odumosu said investigations so far have revealed that the suspects were coming from Guata junction in Nasarawa state to deposit the items at Iron Melting Company situated at Sabo Wuse, Kaduna road, Niger State.

The FCT Commandant reiterated the Corps ‘ preparedness to keep vandals out of business and out of the FCT for good.
“We are not taking it lightly with those who have chosen to sabotage the good efforts and intentions of the government to give meaningful life to the residents of the FCT.”

Odumosu said that the FCT command is poised to fish out bad eggs with the constant night patrols by the Eagle Eyes Intelligence team as well as the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure Department’s Tactical team on routine night patrols.

“We have a renewed vigour to fulfil our mandate of protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure; we are not resting on our oars until we rid the capital city of these miscreants”.

He disclosed that Items ranging from drainage covers, Iron pipe protection for bridge shoulder, communication Mast accessories, Rolls of stainless steel pipe clamps, Angle bar from public water tank and scaffold pipes and clips were recovered.

Other recovered Items included Manhole covers, Electricity Aluminum conductors, wire mesh, Armoured Aluminum conductors, Iron steel section -U, Angle and I section, Rice Milling Machine Iron, Welding wires, Binding Wires, Barb Wires, Vandalized Motorcycle parts, vandalized Vehicle parts, Vandalized Wheel Barros and Household Utensils/ properties suspected to have been stolen.

He said the suspects arrested are Aminu Yusuf, 25 years, Saminu Yusuf, 20 years;
Adamu Sani, 20 years; Suleiman  Yusuf, 20 years; and Usman Jalo, 27 years.

He assured the corps’ unwavering commitment and determination to continue to perform their duty optimally until vandals, scavengers (Babanbola) and other saboteurs are chased out of the FCT.

He said: “We want to state clearly that FCT is a no-go area for vandals, scavengers and all the hoodlums sleeping under the bridges in the city and coming out at night to vandal government property and attack innocent commuters and residents.”

He warned vandals to either repent, relocate or be ready to face the wrath of the law, stating that the suspects are currently undergoing investigation and due diligence would be followed to ensure that justice was served.

Odumosu, while re-emphasizing the corps ‘ commitment to secure the FCT, solicited the public’s cooperation in the area of prompt intelligence information to enable the corps to serve them better.