Pix: NSCDC CG, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi

The management and staff of People’s Security Monitor join the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, and the Edo State NSCDC Commandant, Gbenga Agun, in mourning the tragic and gruesome murder of eight gallant NSCDC operatives in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, last Friday.

Pix: Gbenga Agun, EdoNSCDC Commandant

These fallen officers, who paid the supreme price in the line of duty, were brutally cut down while courageously performing their national assignment of protecting critical assets and fostering peace in the community. According to official reports, the personnel, who were on legitimate operations, fell into an ambush orchestrated by suspected armed gangs linked to the violent feud between warring communities over royalty proceeds. Their lives were terminated in the most cruel and despicable manner, leaving behind grieving families, colleagues, and a nation still reeling from the loss.

We at People’s Security Monitor condemn, in the strongest terms, this senseless act of violence against the NSCDC. It is a crime not just against the Corps, but against Nigeria as a whole. The killing of uniformed personnel engaged in lawful duty represents a dangerous affront to the rule of law and an attack on the very fabric of national security.

We call for a high-powered investigation into this heinous crime. Nothing short of a thorough and uncompromising probe can bring justice to the slain heroes. The searchlight must be beamed particularly on the warring communities entangled in the dispute over royalty funds. There may be valuable leads pointing to the perpetrators or their sponsors. The federal and state authorities, working with security agencies, must ensure that the masterminds and executors of this bloodshed are fished out and brought swiftly before the law.

Even in the face of this grief, we take solace in the leadership of Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi. The Commandant General has consistently demonstrated empathy and swift action whenever the Corps faces tragedy. We are confident that he will not waste time in ensuring adequate compensation and support for the bereaved families of these fallen heroes. Their sacrifices must not go unrewarded, and their loved ones must not be left to suffer abandonment.

At the same time, we must stress that the killings serve as a painful reminder that while the NSCDC remains a people-oriented and people-loving security outfit, there is an urgent need to strengthen its intelligence-gathering capabilities. Circumspection and proactive surveillance are now indispensable at all times, especially given the hostile circumstances that claimed the lives of these eight officers. Their memory must inspire reforms that tighten the Corps’ operational security and sharpen its readiness in volatile terrains.

As we grieve, we extend our deepest condolences to Commandant General Audi, Commandant Gbenga Agun, the entire NSCDC family, and, most importantly, the bereaved families of the eight gallant officers. They died serving Nigeria with honour, loyalty, and courage. Their legacy of sacrifice shall not be forgotten.

May their souls rest in peace, and may justice rise swiftly on their behalf.