staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto State recently survived an ambush during an operation, with the commander, Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi, attributing his escape in part to the protection provided by an armored vehicle provided by the state government.
Ajayi disclosed this on Tuesday when members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel, Sokoto State Council, paid a courtesy visit to the command.
The commander, who spoke about the dangers faced by security personnel in the field, showed a damaged operational vehicle, saying it was evidence of the attack and the risks faced by officers in the performance of their duties.
He said the state government’s provision of four operational vehicles, including an armored vehicle, had significantly improved the command’s ability to respond to security threats.
“If it were not for the efforts of the state government, especially the four vehicles they provided to us recently, including the armored vehicle, something might have happened. The bullets could not penetrate and the men were able to escape,” said Ajayi.
According to him, the incident demonstrated the importance of equipping security personnel with adequate operational means, especially as criminals continue to employ increasingly dangerous tactics.
Ajayi also lamented that the sacrifices and challenges faced by security personnel were often unknown to the public, and emphasized the importance of the media in reporting on such realities.
“No one would listen to this if it weren’t for people like you. No one would talk about our contributions to the public if it weren’t for your presence,” he added.
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Accordingly, he called for closer collaboration between the NSCDC and the media, describing journalists as important partners in the fight against insecurity.
The commander assured the Correspondents’ Chapel of an open-door policy and urged journalists to approach the command whenever they needed information on security developments.
“My door is wide open for you. You don’t need to knock before you enter this office. You don’t need to knock to get security coverage or anything you want from us,” he said.
Ajayi further directed officers of the command to make their contact details available to journalists to facilitate quick communication during security incidents and other emergencies.
He said the relationship between the media and security agencies should extend beyond routine reporting to include regular engagement on operational challenges, arrests, detention of suspects and emerging security threats.
The commander maintained that combating banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities required collective efforts from security agencies, government, communities and media.
He urged journalists to maintain professional and responsible coverage, noting that accurate reporting and effective communication could strengthen public trust and support security efforts.
Ajayi reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining close cooperation with the media and said information sharing and mutual understanding remained critical to protecting lives and property in the state.
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