Edo Police Launch Manhunt After Gunmen Kill 8 NSCDC Officers, Abduct Expatriate

The Edo State Police Command has launched a full-scale manhunt for the killers of at least eight officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were ambushed and murdered last Friday night. The deadly attack, which occurred along the Okpella–Agenebode axis, also resulted in the death of a civilian driver and the abduction of a Chinese expatriate.

According to a statement from the NSCDC, the officers were on an escort mission for a group of five Chinese nationals working at the BUA Cement Company when their convoy was ambushed by gunmen. In the ensuing gunfight, eight personnel were killed, and four others were injured. While four of the expatriates were safely rescued by the surviving officers, one was taken hostage by the attackers.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, condemned the killings as a “dastardly act” and assured the public that the police, in collaboration with the NSCDC and other security agencies, are fully committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice. The NSCDC has also deployed a special tactical squad to the area with a clear directive to rescue the abducted expatriate and apprehend all those involved in the heinous crime.

The coordinated operation involves combing the surrounding forests where the criminals are believed to have fled. The police and NSCDC are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in the ongoing investigation. The tragic incident has renewed calls for enhanced security measures in the state to protect both citizens and foreign workers from the increasing threat of kidnapping and armed violence.