On Friday night, a group of armed men, believed to be kidnappers, attacked security officers working at the BUA Cement Factory in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Sadly, eight members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) lost their lives during the attack.
According to a senior officer from the command in Edo State, the attackers also kidnapped one Chinese national who works at the factory. However, four other Chinese workers who were with him were rescued from the kidnappers. The officer further explained that four people sustained injuries in the attack, and they are now receiving medical treatment at a hospital, though the exact hospital was not revealed for security reasons. He assured the public that an official statement about the tragic event would be released later from the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.
The senior officer explained that the incident happened around 10 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2025. At that time, the officers were escorting five Chinese workers after their routine security patrol at the entrance of the company. It was during this escort that the kidnappers struck.
Following the incident, the Commandant of the NSCDC in Edo State, Agun Gbenga, immediately visited both the crime scene and the hospital where the injured victims are being treated. Security agencies have also launched a joint operation with other forces to comb nearby forests in search of the criminals.
This tragedy happened just hours after another serious security case in the state. Earlier on Friday afternoon, along the Benin-Auchi Road, a group of passengers traveling to Abuja were kidnapped. According to the Edo State Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu, the incident took place around 4:30 p.m. The passengers were forced into the forest by the kidnappers, but quick intervention by police officers, local vigilantes, and hunters led to the rescue of 16 of the victims. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing to ensure that no one is left behind.
These back-to-back incidents clearly show the deepening security problems in Edo State. Both the police and the NSCDC, along with other security forces, are working tirelessly to protect lives, rescue victims, and bring those responsible for these crimes to justice. Authorities have also assured the public that operations will continue until peace and safety are fully restored in the affected areas.
