The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the loss of eight of its operatives following a deadly ambush by armed kidnappers in Edo State.
The incident, which took place on September 5, 2025, near Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area, involved operatives deployed to guard expatriates working at the BUA Cement Company.
According to an official statement issued under reference number AAA.03/CPRU/NHQ/ABJ/VOL.02/09 and signed by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale, the operatives fought bravely during a three-hour gun battle.
The ambush targeted a convoy of NSCDC officers escorting Chinese expatriates during a routine patrol of the company’s operational axis.
While four expatriates were successfully rescued, the Corps disclosed that one expatriate remains missing as efforts to track down the kidnappers intensify.
Four NSCDC operatives sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving intensive medical care. The Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, assured that all medical bills would be covered by the Corps.
“This tragic incident will not discourage the NSCDC from discharging its statutory mandate,” the Corps stated, emphasizing its commitment to protecting critical national assets and infrastructure.
Professor Audi described the fallen operatives as patriots whose labour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. He directed the Edo State Command and senior management to visit the families of the deceased.
Arrangements, he said, are being made for the burial of the gallant officers with full honours, befitting their service to the nation.
The Commandant General also praised the resilience and courage displayed by the survivors, noting that their speedy recovery remains a top priority for the Corps.
Meanwhile, security agencies in Edo State have joined forces with the NSCDC to comb the surrounding forests in pursuit of the kidnappers and to locate the missing expatriate.
Prof. Audi extended appreciation to the military, police, and other security partners for their ongoing collaboration in tackling the menace of banditry and kidnapping in the region.
The Corps further urged members of the public to disregard speculative or embellished reports circulating about the incident, insisting that only verified updates from official NSCDC channels should be trusted.
“We wholly condemn such attacks,” the statement read. “But this will not shake our resolve to protect lives, safeguard infrastructure, and uphold our national security mandate.”
As Edo mourns its dead and families grieve their loved ones, the NSCDC stands on the frontline of a battle that grows fiercer by the day — a battle where sacrifice is the price of service.
