Eight NSCDC officers and a driver were killed in an ambush in Edo State while escorting a Chinese expatriate, who was abducted by armed attackers.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been thrown into mourning following the brutal killing of eight of its personnel and a civilian driver during an ambush in Edo State.
The incident occurred late on Friday, September 5, 2025, around 10:30 p.m. along the Okpella–Agenebode axis, an area that has in recent times witnessed rising cases of violent attacks and kidnappings.
According to an official statement released by the Corps on Saturday, the attack was carried out by heavily armed gunmen who laid siege on a convoy escorting a Chinese national working with BUA Cement Company, Okpella.
The assailants opened fire, leaving eight NSCDC operatives attached to the Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) Department dead on the spot, alongside a civilian driver.
Out of the twelve personnel deployed for the assignment, only three survived but sustained varying degrees of injuries, while the expatriate they were protecting was abducted.
The Corps confirmed that the remains of the nine deceased have been deposited in the mortuary, while the three injured victims are currently receiving intensive medical attention in a hospital facility.
Among those who fell in the line of duty was Chief Corps Assistant (CCA) Oluwatosin Sunday from the Ondo State Command, who had been detailed to serve with the CNAI Department.
Describing the incident as a painful blow to the security agency, the NSCDC said it remains undeterred in its constitutional mandate despite the tragic loss.
The statement noted that the officers demonstrated rare courage and commitment by standing firm against overwhelming firepower, thereby sacrificing their lives in defense of national assets, infrastructure, and human life.
“The Corps deeply mourns this grievous loss and commiserates with the families of the deceased, their colleagues, and the entire NSCDC family.
“We salute the gallantry of our officers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, national assets, and infrastructure,” the statement read.
The agency further urged Nigerians to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring the public that security forces are working tirelessly to apprehend the perpetrators of what it described as a “heinous crime.”
It also gave assurance that collaborative operations with sister security agencies, including the police and military, have been intensified to ensure the immediate rescue of the kidnapped expatriate and restoration of security in the affected corridor.
Beyond the operational response, the Corps promised that it would not abandon the families of the fallen officers.
It pledged support for the dependents of the deceased and stressed that their sacrifice would not be in vain.
“May the souls of our gallant officers rest in peace,” the statement concluded.
The ambush highlights once again the growing risks faced by security operatives in the discharge of their duties, especially in areas where kidnapping for ransom and attacks on expatriates have become recurring threats.