Kidnappers kill one soldier, four hostages in kidnapping attempt against Chinese in Ogun

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a soldier, four hostages and injured another soldier and two policemen at Mowe/Ibafo axis in Obafemi-Owode local government area of ​​Ogun State.

The miscreants were said to have opened fire on Army personnel early Monday morning in what many eyewitnesses described as a surprise attack.

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday confirmed the killing and revealed that it occurred in an attempt to kidnap some Chinese expatriates in the area.

This was stated by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 35th Artillery Brigade, Alamala Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Akari, in a statement to journalists.

Akari said one of the suspected kidnappers died in the botched operation, while another soldier and two police officers suffered gunshot wounds.

He explained that a joint security team consisting of soldiers and police was responding to an emergency call when the team was ambushed by armed men suspected of being kidnappers in the vicinity of a dredging site where foreign workers were operating.

An Army spokesman said the ambush led to a fierce firefight, in which one of the attackers was neutralized. The kidnappers then retreated towards the Ogun River through the surrounding forest, holding five people hostage as human shields to avoid pursuit by the Rapid Response Force which was deployed as reinforcements.

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Akari said the kidnappers then killed four hostages before fleeing via a river channel in a boat. One of the hostages managed to escape and reported that the attackers took the body of their killed accomplice.

The statement read in part, “Troops of the 35 Artillery Brigade, together with personnel of the Nigerian Police on joint patrol duty, have thwarted a kidnapping attempt targeting Chinese expatriates at Magbon Village in Mowe area of ​​Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.

“The incident occurred on June 8, 2026, when a joint security team was ambushed by armed men suspected of being kidnappers while responding to a distress call in the vicinity of a dredging site where foreign workers were involved in the operation. A fierce firefight ensued, during which one of the attackers was neutralized. The remaining attackers reportedly abandoned their mission and retreated through the surrounding forest towards the Ogun River, taking five people hostage as human shields to avoid pursuit by the Rapid Reaction Force deployed as reinforcement.

“The four hostages were later killed by the fleeing attackers before they fled through the river channel in a boat. One of the fleeing hostages told how the attackers took the bodies of their deceased comrades with them. Unfortunately, one soldier lost his life in the clash, while another soldier and two police officers suffered gunshot wounds.

“The deceased soldiers and the bodies of the recovered hostages have been deposited at the mortuary of the General Hospital, Sagamu. The injured personnel are currently receiving medical treatment. Following the incident, the Rapid Response Force and other security agencies have intensified patrols and surveillance in the area to restore calm and prevent further security breaches.”

Giving an update on the incident, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said four people were abducted in the attack.

Babaseyi stated that, “Police operatives, in collaboration with the military and other security stakeholders, immediately launched a coordinated search and rescue operation.

“One of the kidnapping victims was rescued, while the other three victims were later found.

“During a bush combing exercise, a local hunter supporting the operation lost his life when he encountered the fleeing criminals. The command extends its condolences to his family.

“Continued tactical pressure from the joint security team led to the neutralization of one of the suspects, while efforts continue to be made to apprehend the remaining gang members. This incident remains an isolated criminal attack.”