The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is mourning the loss of eight of its personnel who were killed in an ambush by suspected kidnappers at Okpella, Edo State, on Friday night.
The attack, which lasted for about three hours, also left four NSCDC officers critically injured, one Chinese expatriate abducted, and four Chinese nationals rescued unhurt.
In a statement on Saturday by its national Public Relations Officer, Mr Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC said that the operatives were deployed to provide security for expatriates attached to the BUA Cement Company.
The corps said that the team’s convoy was ambushed by heavily-armed gunmen during a routine patrol.
It said that its Commandant-General that the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, described the incident as “grievous” and expressed sorrow at the loss of the gallant officers.
The NSCDC has vowed to work tirelessly with other security agencies to rescue the abducted expatriate and apprehend the perpetrators.
The corps also assured that it will take full responsibility for the medical treatment of the injured personnel to facilitate their recovery.
The Edo commandant and other senior officers would pay condolence visits to the bereaved families and ensure the burial of the slain officers with full honors.
The NSCDC Commandant-General expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen officers, stating, “The labour, commitment, and patriotism displayed by our operatives will forever be remembered.
”The corps stands firmly with their families at this moment of grief.”
He assured that NSCDC remained committed to its statutory mandate of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, despite the cowardly attack.
