A late-night terror assault on a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, formation in Niger State was foiled after officers on duty put up resistance and tactically withdrew to safety, preventing loss of lives despite damage to operational assets.
The incident occurred a few minutes after midnight at the Wawa area of Borgu Local Government Area, where armed attackers stormed the NSCDC post in large numbers.
The Commandant of the corps in Niger, Mr Suberu Siyaka-Aniviye, confirmed the attack while briefing journalists in Minna on Wednesday, stressing that no personnel was killed.
He said the attackers were unable to operate freely due to the alertness and swift response of officers on duty, though the situation became challenging because the assailants outnumbered the personnel and took advantage of the darkness.
Siyaka-Aniviye explained that the terrorists used torchlights to identify movement before firing sporadically, forcing NSCDC personnel to manoeuvre tactically and take cover to avoid casualties.
“Our men manoeuvred and took cover, but the attackers fired indiscriminately because they were heavily armed,” the commandant said.
In the process of withdrawing to safety, the personnel abandoned their operational vehicle. The attackers, believing the officers were still inside, shot repeatedly at the vehicle, riddling it with bullets, damaging the windscreen and puncturing all four tyres.
The commandant said the tyres were later replaced, and the vehicle was successfully driven back to the NSCDC state headquarters in Minna.
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He added that the attackers also looted personal belongings from nearby huts, carting away luggage containing clothes, mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.
During the attack, one rifle was taken by the assailants while its owner was attempting to take cover, the commandant confirmed.
Despite the intensity of the attack, Siyaka-Aniviye reiterated that no NSCDC personnel sustained serious injuries, noting that only minor bruises were recorded during the manoeuvres.
He disclosed that the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Mr Ahmed Audi, immediately deployed a tactical team to Niger State to comb the area and reinforce security around the affected community.
The tactical operatives, he said, remain on ground and are covering the entire environment, with early assessments indicating that the terrorists were likely moving between hideouts.
Siyaka-Aniviye assured that all personnel involved in the incident had been fully accounted for and were safe.
“I invited all the personnel after the incident; all of them turned up and they are safe. They are here with us,” he said.
He reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting critical assets and communities in the state, adding that security operations in the area had been intensified to prevent further attacks.
NAN
