Eight NSCDC Personnel Killed as Kidnappers Launch Deadly Ambush in Edo

By Diafa Doubra,

Tragedy struck in Edo State after a violent kidnapping incident left at least eight personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) dead. The attack, which occurred over the weekend along the busy Benin–Auchi road, has sent shockwaves across the state and raised fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in the region.

According to eyewitnesses, the NSCDC operatives were ambushed by heavily armed gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. The attackers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing the officers on the spot before fleeing into the forest with several abducted victims. The brutality of the assault has been described as one of the deadliest targeting security operatives in recent times.

Confirming the incident, NSCDC officials in Edo expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their men, describing them as gallant officers who died in active service. The corps vowed to work with other security agencies to track down the perpetrators and rescue those abducted.

The incident has reignited public fears about the safety of major highways in Edo, which have become notorious for abductions and violent robberies. Community leaders have appealed to the Federal Government to step up security presence in the state, warning that unchecked banditry could cripple social and economic life.

As families of the slain officers mourn their loss, pressure is mounting on authorities to not only fish out the killers but also overhaul strategies in the fight against violent crime in Edo and beyond.