Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State survived an ambush during an operation, with the commandant saying an armoured vehicle provided by the state government helped protect them from the attackers.
The NSCDC Commandant in Sokoto, Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi, disclosed this on Tuesday when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited the command.
Ajayi showed journalists a damaged operational vehicle, saying it was evidence of the dangers security personnel face while carrying out their duties.
He said the Sokoto State Government had provided the command with four operational vehicles, including an armoured vehicle, which had improved its ability to respond to security threats.
“If not for the effort of the state government, especially the four vehicles recently provided to us, including the armoured vehicle, something could have happened. The bullets could not penetrate and the men were able to escape,” Ajayi said.
The commandant said the incident showed why security agencies needed proper equipment, especially as criminals were becoming more dangerous in their attacks.
He also said the public was often unaware of the sacrifices made by security personnel and stressed that the media had an important role in telling their stories.
“Nobody will hear this if not for people like you. Nobody will speak about our contributions to the public if not for your presence,” he added.
Ajayi called for closer cooperation between the NSCDC and journalists, describing the media as an important partner in efforts to tackle insecurity.
He assured members of the Correspondents’ Chapel that the command would maintain an open-door policy.
He also directed NSCDC officers to make their contact details available to journalists so they could communicate quickly during security incidents and emergencies.
According to him, cooperation between security agencies and the media should go beyond regular news reporting to include discussions about operational challenges, arrests, detention of suspects and emerging threats.
Ajayi said fighting banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other crimes required joint efforts from security agencies, government, communities and the media.
He urged journalists to continue with accurate and responsible reporting, saying reliable information could improve public confidence and support security efforts in Sokoto State.
NSCDC narrate how officers survived terrorist ambush in Sokoto