Gunmen Kill NSCDC Officer, Abduct Three Students in Edo Seminary Attack

An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been killed following an attack by gunmen on the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary located in Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the assailants struck around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, abducting three students of the seminary in the process. A local vigilante member also sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.

Rev. Fr. Peter Egielewa, Director of Social Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, confirmed the incident and lamented that this marked the second assault on the institution within a span of 10 months. He recalled that a priest was kidnapped during the previous attack.

Expressing the diocese’s outrage, Egielewa strongly condemned the repeated violence, stating, “We are deeply saddened and condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence. The continued attacks on our institution and personnel are disturbing and unacceptable.”

He called on the government and security agencies across all levels to take immediate and decisive steps to safeguard Catholic institutions and ensure the safety of their staff and students.