Gunmen Kill NSCDC Officer, Wound Three Others in Brutal Bayelsa Ambush

Gunmen have attacked a team from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa, killing one officer and injuring three others. The attack occurred in the Igbomotoru community while the officers were returning from a clampdown operation on Friday.

The incident was confirmed by NSCDC spokesperson Afolabi Babawale, who acknowledged the attack but stated that he had not yet received a full report on the situation. Babawale promised to provide further details once a comprehensive report was available.

This attack follows a series of violent incidents in Bayelsa in recent months. In April 2024, gunmen ambushed and killed three soldiers along the Nembe-Brass Road. The military blamed militants and launched a manhunt in response. Earlier, in February 2024, pirates attacked a navy patrol boat in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, killing two personnel. In December 2023, two police officers were killed by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint in Yenagoa, sparking protests over the rising insecurity in the region.

Igbomotoru, located in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, has a history of militant activity. In March 2024, the military carried out a raid in the community after suspects connected to the killing of 17 soldiers in Delta State’s Okuama were traced there.