The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)has been plunged into mourning following the slaughtering of its seven personnel in Kaduna State.
Also killed in the attack were 11 people comprised of local guards otherwise known as vigilante and miners.
This brings the total number of people slaughtered in one fell swoop to 18.
According to reports, the incident happened on the 8th of January 2023 at about 11:am.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by suspected bandits and terrorist groups.
The security forces were said to have been ambushed while on patrol at a mining site in Kiru village Kuriga ward Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State where mining activities are being carried out by one Sahlan engineering company.
The seven slain NSCDC personnel were shot dead and have been identified as ASCI Shamsuddeen Labaran, ASCII Peter Ayuba, ASCII Simon Augustine, IC Micheal Miss, IC Fidelis Yusuf, IC Peter Nom, Elisha Yashim Silas.
The other 11 corpses are yet to be identified. However, the 18 corpses and were taken to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna.
Director of Public Relations, NSCDC, DCC Olusola Odumosu, while confirming the incident said: “Seven personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were ambushed and killed alongside five others from a sister security agency and local security service. The personnel who were attached to the Kaduna State Ministry of Mines were ambushed and killed by bandits while on official duty at a mining site in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State. The sad incident took place on Monday 9th of January 2023, at about 10.00hrs at the Kuriga mining site in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State. After the attack, the bandits carted away the rifles of the slain operatives and the remains of the slain officers and men have been recovered and deposited at the Barau Diko Hospital Kaduna. The Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, described the unfortunate incident as a big loss to the Corps, families of the slain victims and the nation. He commiserates with the families and friends of the deceased and prays that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. In honour of the slain personnel, the CG has directed that the Corps’ flag be hoisted at half-mast and that a national prayer involving both Christians and Muslims be organized at the Corps National headquarters, Abuja, to pray for Gods protection for all officers and men of the Corps in the new year and avert a recurrence of the such awful incident.”