The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has offered job opportunities to families of it personnel killed by bandits in the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.
Recall that seven personnel of the Corps were ambushed and slain in Birnin Gwari community on Monday, 9 January, 2023, while on routine duty of protecting a mining site in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.
Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, who disclosed this while addressing officers and men, as well as bereaved families at the NSCDC Kaduna Command Headquarters, stated that the Corps had in the past lost officers in the line of duties, but not as much as compared to the Birnin-Gwari tragic incident.
Audi, who described the killing as colossal however, charged other personnel not to be deterred by the ugly incident rather put in their best for a more secured country.
“Although, this is not the first time we are losing personnel, but it’s so painful that we lost seven personnel at a time.
“It is a great loss, that is why I am here personally, to encourage all of you, to continue to do your best and not give up,” he said.
The NSCDC boss who also presented cheques of undisclosed amount of money to next of kins of the deceased as a token of support pending the payment of their accrued benefits, announced the approval of one slot for each family as replacement of the slain officers.
“This is a service that has its personnel in mind. It is my vision to champion the course of promoting personnel’s welfare in the Corps.
“The minister has approved one slot each for you to replace your husbands. I have also directed the Kaduna State Commandant, Idris Yahaya, to liase with you on getting your details across to us in Abuja,” he informed.
He also announced the elevation of the only survivor of the attack, SCA Thomas Hassan, to the rank of Inspector of Corps, IC, from Senior Corps Assistant, SCA.
The CG who immediately decorated him with his new rank, charged him to teach others the manoeuvring tactics used to survive such dangerous attack in order to minimise casualties in case of similar confrontation in the future.
Assistant Commandant General, Zone B, Muhammad Haruna, commended the effort of the CG in lightening the burdens of the deceased family members left behind, stressing that the visit no doubt encouraged, motivated and gave succour to the injured and broken hearted.
A representative of the deceased families, Mallam Baba Ladan, thanked the NSCDC management for their prayers and for standing by the families during their period of grief.