The Nigerian Army has confirmed the deaths of a soldier and four hostages during a failed attempt to abduct Chinese expatriates in Magbon, Mowe, located in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to a statement by Major Idereghi Akari, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, the incident occurred when a joint security team of soldiers and police officers responded to a distress call at a dredging site where expatriates were working.
The team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers, resulting in a fierce gunfight. One suspected kidnapper was killed in the exchange, while another soldier and two police officers were injured by gunfire.
The attackers retreated through the surrounding forest toward the Ogun River, taking five hostages with them as human shields in an effort to evade a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.
According to the Army, the kidnappers later killed four of the hostages before escaping via the river in a boat. One hostage managed to escape and reported that the assailants took the body of their slain accomplice with them.
Major Akari stated that the bodies of the deceased soldier and hostages have been deposited at the General Hospital, Sagamu, while the injured personnel are receiving treatment. Security patrols and surveillance have since been intensified in the area.
In a separate update, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed that four persons were abducted during the attack. Joint efforts by police, military, and local security groups led to the rescue of one victim and the recovery of the other three bodies.
During the search operation, a local hunter assisting the team was also killed. The police have expressed condolences to his family and assured them that efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects. Authorities have described the incident as an isolated criminal act.
