BLESSING OMALE, Abuja
Nigeria’s battle against rising insecurity took a tragic turn in Edo State last week when suspected kidnappers ambushed and killed eight operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area.
The officers were on escort duty for Chinese expatriates working with BUA Cement Company when the convoy came under heavy gunfire on Friday, September 5, 2025.
The attack sparked a fierce three-hour shootout. Although four expatriates were rescued, one was abducted and remains in captivity.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has now launched a manhunt, deploying a Special Intelligence Squad alongside Counter Terrorism, SWAT, and Special Protection Units to comb the forests in search of the attackers.
The operation is being led by CC Dandaura Appollos Jp, Commandant of the CG’s elite intelligence team.
“This Corps will not succumb to threats or be deterred by the activities of subversive elements and evil perpetrators,” Audi declared, vowing that the lives lost would not be in vain.
He assured that security around the BUA Cement Company and adjoining communities has been significantly strengthened to protect workers, expatriates, and critical national infrastructure.
Beyond the firepower, the NSCDC says it is doubling down on community engagement as a non-kinetic approach to curb insecurity in the area.
It also appealed for public support, urging residents to volunteer credible intelligence to help track the attackers.
The Okpella ambush has once again spotlighted the dangers faced by security personnel who put their lives on the line daily to shield citizens and vital economic assets from criminal gangs.
For families of the slain officers, it is a painful reminder of the human cost of Nigeria’s fight against kidnappers and terrorists.
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