NSCDC Officers Open Fire in Bauchi Village, Injure Three, Including 12-Year-Old Boy

 

A routine arrest operation in Tudun Wada village of Bauchi State turned violent on Wednesday when operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly opened fire during a confrontation with locals, leaving three people injured, including a 12-year-old boy.

The shooting, which has sparked public outcry, was made known on Thursday by security analyst Zagazola Makama through a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. Details of the event indicate that NSCDC officers from Alkaleri Local Government Area had arrived in Tudun Wada, located in Liman-Katagum LGA, to carry out an arrest. The mission, however, escalated into chaos after an altercation broke out between the operatives and some members of the community.

During the commotion, gunshots rang out, and three individuals were struck. Hamza Sarkin Aska and Jibrin Adamu, both residents of Tudun Wada, suffered gunshot wounds to their legs. A third victim, 12-year-old Umar Rabiu, an Almajiri boy from Yola Doka village, sustained bruises on his right leg, reportedly caused during the scramble that ensued.

Emergency response was swift, as security forces on ground quickly transported the injured to General Hospital Yuguda for immediate medical care. Hospital authorities later confirmed that Sarkin Aska and Adamu had been admitted and were responding positively to treatment. The young boy, Rabiu, received minor treatment and was subsequently discharged.

The use of firearms in the midst of what should have been a controlled arrest operation has raised serious questions about the conduct and engagement rules of security personnel operating in civilian areas. The incident has fueled fresh concerns about the readiness and discipline of paramilitary forces deployed for internal security tasks in rural communities.

Authorities in Bauchi State are not taking the matter lightly. The State Police Command has announced the commencement of a full-scale investigation to determine the sequence of events that led to the shooting. Officials say the probe aims to establish accountability and ensure those responsible face appropriate consequences if wrongdoing is confirmed.

Residents of Tudun Wada, still shaken by the event, are calling for transparency in the investigation and caution in future operations. Many have expressed frustration over what they describe as a growing pattern of heavy-handedness by security agents, particularly in less urbanized areas where oversight is limited.

As the investigation unfolds, public attention remains focused on how both the NSCDC and the police will handle the fallout from this incident. The outcome may set a precedent for how similar cases are addressed in the future, especially at a time when trust between civilians and security forces continues to be tested across various parts of the country.