A Nigerian soldier and four hostages were killed during a failed kidnapping attempt targeting Chinese expatriates in Magbon, Mowe, within Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, the Nigerian Army has confirmed.
The incident occurred on Monday when armed men suspected to be kidnappers launched an attack near a dredging site where Chinese nationals were working.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 35 Artillery Brigade, Major Idereghi Akari, said troops working alongside officers of the Nigeria Police Force responded to a distress call from the area but were ambushed by the attackers.
According to him, the security operatives engaged the gunmen in a fierce exchange of gunfire, resulting in the death of one of the suspected kidnappers. However, the assailants fled into the surrounding forest and headed toward the Ogun River, allegedly taking five people hostage and using them as human shields to evade pursuing security forces.
Akari disclosed that the fleeing kidnappers later killed four of the captives before escaping by boat through a river channel. One of the hostages managed to escape and later informed security personnel that the attackers also carried away the body of their slain accomplice.
The Army spokesperson said the operation came at a heavy cost, with one soldier losing his life during the confrontation. Another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment.
“The deceased soldier and the recovered bodies of the hostages have been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Sagamu, while injured personnel are undergoing medical care,” Akari stated.
He added that security agencies have intensified patrols and surveillance operations across the area to prevent further attacks and restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command provided a slightly different account of the number of victims involved in the incident.
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Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said four persons were abducted during the attack and that joint security teams immediately commenced search-and-rescue operations involving the military and other stakeholders.
He revealed that one of the abducted victims was rescued alive, while the bodies of the remaining three victims were later recovered.
Babaseyi also disclosed that a local hunter assisting security personnel during the search operation was killed in an encounter with the fleeing criminals.
“The Command extends its condolences to the family of the deceased hunter,” he said.
According to the police, sustained pressure from the joint security team led to the killing of one suspect, while efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the remaining members of the gang.
Authorities described the incident as an isolated criminal attack and assured residents that security operations in the area have been strengthened.