By DADA AYOKHAI
Gunmen, believed to be kidnappers, ambushed and killed eight Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials in Okpella, Etsako East LGA in Edo State’on Friday night.
During the attack, a Chinese expatriate was abducted from the BUA Cement Company, while four others were rescued unhurt.
The officers, who were attached to BUA Cement Company, were reportedly escorting five Chinese expatriates back to base following a routine patrol when they were ambushed near the company’s entrance gate.
Sources said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, opened fire on the operatives, killing eight of them on the spot. One of the expatriates was abducted, while four others were rescued.
Confirming the incident, a senior official at the Edo Command of NSCDC, said the operatives were on routine escort duty when the gunmen struck at about 10:00 p.m.
“Eight officers were killed, while five others, including a civilian, sustained injuries. One Chinese expatriate was abducted, while four others were rescued unhurt,” the official said.
The source explained that the gunmen, who laid an ambush at the company’s entrance, engaged the NSCDC operatives in a gun duel before fleeing into the bush with one of the expatriates.
According to the official, joint security operations involving sister agencies have been launched to comb the surrounding forest, rescue the abducted expatriate, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Gbenga Agun, has since visited the scene of the incident as well as the injured officers in hospital.
When contacted, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer in Edo, Efosa Ogbebor, declined to comment, stating that a formal statement would be issued by the Corps’ national headquarters.
