Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Friday night allegedly killed eight personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the BUA Cement Factory in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
A senior officer of the command confirmed the attack on Saturday, disclosing that one Chinese expatriate was abducted, while four others narrowly escaped. He added that four persons sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
“Eight of our members were indeed killed by kidnappers, but a statement will be officially released later today in Abuja,” the officer said.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on August 5, 2025, when the NSCDC operatives were escorting five Chinese nationals after a routine patrol near the company’s entrance.
Edo State NSCDC Commandant, Agun Gbenga, has since visited both the crime scene and the hospital where the injured are being treated. He assured that joint operations with other security agencies have commenced, combing surrounding forests in pursuit of the attackers.
The tragedy comes amid a surge in abductions across Edo State. On the same day, sixteen passengers kidnapped along the Benin-Auchi Road were rescued after police, vigilantes, and local hunters launched a coordinated operation.
Edo Police Command spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed the rescue, stating: “The kidnapping took place on Friday at about 16:30 hrs. Sixteen of the victims have been rescued so far, as the search and rescue operation by the command in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters continues.”
The latest incidents highlight worsening security challenges in Edo State, as authorities intensify efforts to restore safety and bring perpetrators to justice.
