The Nigerian Army on Tuesday confirmed the death of a soldier and four hostages following an attempted abduction of Chinese expatriates in Magbon area of Mowe, located in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The tragic incident, which involved a fierce gun battle between security operatives and suspected kidnappers, also left another soldier and two police officers injured.
The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Akari, disclosed the development in a statement made available to journalists.
According to Akari, the incident occurred around a dredging site where expatriate workers were carrying out operations before armed men suspected to be kidnappers launched an attack in an attempt to abduct the foreign nationals.
He explained that a joint security team comprising soldiers and police officers responded swiftly after receiving a distress call from the area.
However, the security operatives reportedly came under heavy ambush from the armed attackers upon arrival at the scene, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire.
Akari stated that during the confrontation, one of the suspected kidnappers was killed by the security forces while efforts were made to repel the attack and rescue the victims.
The Army spokesman added that the attackers, facing pressure from the advancing security operatives, retreated into the surrounding forest near the Ogun River while taking five hostages along as human shields to avoid being captured.
According to him, the abductors moved toward the riverine area as reinforcements from a Quick Response Force intensified pursuit operations.
“The joint security team encountered the armed men after responding to a distress call from the dredging site where expatriates were working,” Akari said.
“The operatives were ambushed by the suspected kidnappers, resulting in a fierce gun duel during which one of the attackers was neutralised.”
He further explained that the kidnappers, while attempting to escape through the forest corridor leading to the Ogun River, forcefully took away five hostages to shield themselves from the pursuing security personnel.
Tragically, Akari disclosed that the kidnappers later killed four of the hostages before fleeing the area through the river channel in a boat.
He said one of the hostages managed to escape from the captors and later provided useful information to security authorities regarding the movement of the attackers.
According to the survivor’s account, the kidnappers also evacuated the body of their slain accomplice while escaping from the scene.
The Army spokesman confirmed that one soldier lost his life during the operation while another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries and were receiving medical attention.
Security agencies have since intensified search operations in the riverine and forest areas around the border communities in a bid to track down the fleeing suspects.
Akari said the military and other security agencies remained committed to ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators and restoring security in the area.
He also assured residents that additional security measures had been activated to prevent further attacks and protect both residents and expatriate workers operating in the region.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over kidnapping and violent crimes in parts of Ogun State and surrounding areas.
Although Ogun has traditionally been regarded as relatively safer compared to some neighbouring states, recent incidents involving kidnappings and attacks on travellers and workers have raised fresh fears among residents and investors.
The attack on foreign expatriates is also likely to heighten concerns within the business community, especially among companies involved in construction, mining and dredging operations in remote locations.
Security experts say criminal groups are increasingly targeting expatriates and wealthy individuals for ransom due to the financial gains associated with such abductions.
The use of riverine escape routes by the kidnappers has also drawn attention to the security challenges posed by difficult terrains and forest corridors often exploited by armed groups.
Residents in nearby communities reportedly expressed shock over the violence, with many calling for increased military and police presence in the area.
Some locals also appealed to the government to strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance around isolated industrial sites and riverine communities vulnerable to criminal attacks.
Meanwhile, the identities of the deceased hostages had not been officially released as of the time of filing this report.
Authorities were also yet to confirm whether the Chinese expatriates targeted in the attack escaped unharmed or sustained injuries during the incident.
The Ogun State Police Command had not issued a separate statement regarding the attack, although security agencies were said to be coordinating efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The latest incident adds to growing national concerns over insecurity, particularly kidnapping-for-ransom operations that continue to affect several parts of the country despite ongoing security interventions.
Analysts warn that attacks targeting expatriates and foreign workers could negatively impact investor confidence and business operations if stronger preventive security measures are not implemented.
For now, security operatives continue combing the forests and waterways around the Ogun River area as efforts intensify to track down the kidnappers responsible for the deadly attack.
