Terrorists have attacked an outpost of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the Wawa area of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, the corps has confirmed.
The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Suberu Siyaka-Aniviye, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Minna, saying the attackers struck shortly after midnight but no personnel was killed.
Siyaka-Aniviye said the assailants, who arrived in large numbers, took advantage of the darkness to launch the attack but were confronted by officers on duty.
He explained that the operatives attempted to repel the terrorists, but were forced to tactically withdraw due to the attackers’ numerical strength and superior firepower.
According to him, the terrorists used torchlights to identify movement around the outpost before firing sporadically, compelling the personnel to manoeuvre and take cover.
“Our men manoeuvred and took cover, but the attackers fired sporadically because they were many and heavily armed,” the commandant said.
He added that during the withdrawal, the officers abandoned their operational vehicle, which the attackers mistakenly believed still had personnel inside.
“The vehicle was riddled with bullets. The windscreen was damaged and all four tyres were punctured,” Siyaka-Aniviye said.
The commandant noted that the tyres were later replaced and the vehicle was recovered and driven back to the NSCDC headquarters in Minna.
He further disclosed that the attackers looted personal belongings from nearby huts, carting away clothes, mobile phones and other gadgets.
Siyaka-Aniviye also confirmed that one rifle was taken by the terrorists during the attack while its owner was attempting to take cover.
Despite the intensity of the assault, the commandant said no personnel was killed or seriously injured, although some officers sustained minor bruises while trying to escape to safety.
He said the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, had immediately deployed a tactical team to the area to comb the environment and reinforce security.
According to him, the tactical team remains on ground, covering the entire axis, adding that preliminary findings suggest the attackers were likely moving between hideouts.
“All our personnel have been accounted for. I invited all of them after the incident and they all turned up. They are safe and with us,” Siyaka-Aniviye said.
The attack is the latest in a series of security breaches in parts of Niger State, which has witnessed repeated assaults on security formations and rural communities in recent months.
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