Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State narrowly escaped death on Monday, August 17, 2026, when their armoured patrol vehicle came under a fierce terrorist ambush at Randa town in Tureta Local Government Area, the State Commandant, Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi, has disclosed.
The Commandant revealed the details of the attack on Tuesday, August 18, while receiving members of the Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, during a courtesy visit to the command. According to Ajayi, the terrorists ambushed the bulletproof patrol vehicle, unleashing a hail of gunfire in an attempt to overpower the officers. However, the armoured vehicle, which was among a fleet of four recently donated to security agencies by the Sokoto State Government, proved its worth. "The good side of it is that the vehicle is bulletproof and the bullets could not penetrate to cause further damage. That was how it escaped the terrorists' attack," Ajayi stated.
Displaying a damaged operational vehicle as evidence of the attack, the commandant stressed that without the intervention of the state government, the incident could have resulted in fatalities. "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 also disclosed that the agency's office in Kebbe was attacked by bandits who destroyed the building and items, including a duty vehicle.
The incident underscores the grave risks routinely faced by security personnel while confronting criminal elements and protecting communities across the state. Ajayi lamented that such sacrifices and operational challenges were often unknown to the public, making the role of journalists critical in informing Nigerians about the realities confronting security agencies. "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.
The Commandant therefore called for stronger collaboration between the NSCDC and the media, describing journalists as important partners in communicating the activities, challenges and achievements of security agencies to the public. He assured members of the Correspondents' Chapel of an open-door policy, urging them to freely approach the command whenever they required information for their reports. "My door is widely open to you. You don't need to knock before entering this office. You don't need to knock for any security coverage or anything that you want from us," he said.
Ajayi further directed officers of the command to make their contact details available to journalists to facilitate prompt communication, particularly during emergencies and security-related incidents. He maintained that the fight against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities could not be left to security agencies alone, calling for greater cooperation among security agencies, government institutions, communities and the media.
Ajayi also vowed that the command would remain resolute and undeterred against security challenges. "We will not relent against the security situation occasioned by tension caused by terrorists. We appreciate the timely support and intervention of the state government for the armoured vehicles donation," he stated. He stressed that effective information-sharing and responsible reporting were essential to strengthening security and protecting lives and property in Sokoto State.
The attack at Randa town in Tureta LGA is a stark reminder of the escalating security challenges confronting the North-West region, where terrorist groups and bandits have continued to target both civilians and security forces. The survival of the NSCDC officers, thanks to the protective capability of the armoured vehicle, highlights the critical importance of equipping security personnel with appropriate operational assets to counter increasingly dangerous tactics employed by criminal elements. As the Commandant made clear, the collaboration between security agencies, the government and the media remains vital to winning the battle against insecurity in Sokoto and beyond.
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