Sokoto Commandant Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi says an armoured vehicle supplied by the state government helped officers escape an armed attack

Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Sokoto State recently survived an armed ambush after an armoured vehicle supplied by the state government protected officers from gunfire, State Commandant Akinrun Emmanuel Ajayi has disclosed.

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Ajayi made the disclosure on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, while receiving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council, during a courtesy visit to the command.

The commandant said the personnel came under attack while carrying out their duties, but were able to escape partly because of the protection offered by an armoured vehicle among four vehicles recently provided to the command by the Sokoto State Government.

He displayed a damaged security vehicle as evidence of the dangers encountered by personnel during operations, saying the incident could have resulted in fatalities without the intervention.

“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 disclosure highlights the operational risks faced by security personnel deployed to communities affected by banditry and other forms of violent crime across Sokoto State.

Ajayi said the NSCDC Sokoto ambush demonstrated the importance of adequate protection and equipment for personnel operating in high-risk environments.

He also said many of the sacrifices made by security personnel remained largely unknown to the public because such incidents did not always receive public attention.

“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 told the journalists.

The commandant used the occasion to call for stronger cooperation between the NSCDC and the media, describing journalists as important partners in informing the public about security operations, challenges and achievements.

He assured members of the Correspondents’ Chapel that the command would maintain an open-door policy and urged journalists to contact the command whenever they required information for security-related reports.

“I know you are a friend of this command and a friend of security. I know what you mean to us and how dear you are to me in particular since I came on board,” Ajayi said.

“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.”

Ajayi also directed officers within the command to make their contact details available to journalists to enable faster communication, particularly when emergencies or developing security incidents require immediate clarification.

He said the relationship between security agencies and the media should extend beyond routine reporting and include regular engagement on emerging threats, arrests, operational difficulties and other issues affecting public safety.

The commandant stressed that confronting banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities required cooperation beyond security agencies.

He called for greater coordination among security agencies, government institutions, communities and the media, arguing that timely information-sharing and responsible reporting could strengthen efforts to protect lives and property.

The incident also underlines the continuing security challenges confronting parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed attacks and banditry have placed significant pressure on security personnel and rural communities.

For the NSCDC, the survival of the officers reinforces the importance of operational preparedness and appropriate protective equipment as personnel continue to work in areas where armed encounters remain a serious threat.

Ajayi’s account also points to the wider role of state support in strengthening the operational capacity of security agencies, particularly where personnel require specialised vehicles and other equipment to operate safely.

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As security agencies continue their efforts against criminal networks, the commandant said stronger partnerships with communities, government and the media would remain essential to improving intelligence-sharing and responding effectively to threats.