Okpella, Edo State — In what security operatives have described as one of the bloodiest ambushes in recent years, heavily armed gunmen late Friday night killed no fewer than 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.
The attackers, suspected to be kidnappers, stormed the factory’s main entrance at about 10:00 pm, opening heavy gunfire on the unsuspecting security team who were escorting five Chinese expatriates after a routine patrol.
The siege left four NSCDC officers seriously wounded and one civilian fatally shot, while the gunmen successfully abducted one of the expatriates before vanishing into the thick forest. In the fierce exchange of fire, however, four expatriates were rescued unhurt by the gallant but outnumbered officers.
Confirming the incident, the Command’s spokesperson, Ogbebor Efosa, in a statement on Saturday, described the assault as “a brutal ambush executed with sophisticated weapons.”
> “The attackers laid in wait and opened fire indiscriminately. Despite the tragic loss of eight personnel, our operatives successfully repelled further assault and ensured the safe rescue of four expatriates. Sadly, one expatriate was abducted, but our joint security forces are already in hot pursuit,” Efosa said.
The Edo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Agun Gbenga, has since visited both the crime scene and the hospital where the injured officers are receiving treatment. Security sources disclosed that an intensive manhunt involving the military, police, and local vigilantes has been launched, with search operations ongoing in the surrounding forest.
Tension has since gripped Okpella and neighboring communities, as residents live in fear of further attacks, while security analysts warn that the brazenness of the assault signals a dangerous escalation in the kidnapping-for-ransom crisis plaguing the region.
Authorities have vowed to ensure the safe release of the abducted Chinese national and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
PIONEER NEWS 