•Escape with body of slain member

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, confirmed the killing of a soldier and four hostages during an attempted abduction of Chinese expatriates in Magbon, Mowe, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. One of the kidnappers was also gunned down during the exchange of gunfire, just as a hunter who was part of the rescue operation equally lost his life, bringing the number of casualties to seven.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Akari, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

Akari said one of the suspected kidnappers was killed during the failed operation, while another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries.

He explained that a joint security team comprising soldiers and police officers was responding to a distress call when it was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers around a dredging site where expatriate workers were operating.

The Army spokesman said the ambush led to a fierce gun battle, during which one of the attackers was neutralised. The kidnappers subsequently retreated towards the Ogun River through the surrounding forest, taking five hostages as human shields to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

Akari said the kidnappers later killed four of the hostages before escaping through the river channel in a boat. One of the hostages managed to escape and reported that the assailants took away the body of their slain accomplice.

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

“The incident occurred on June 8, 2026, when the joint security team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers while responding to a distress call around a dredging site where expatriate workers were engaged in operations. A fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which one of the attackers was neutralised. The remaining assailants reportedly abandoned their mission and withdrew through the surrounding forest towards the Ogun River, taking five hostages as human shields to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

“The four hostages were later killed by the fleeing attackers before they escaped through the river channel in a boat. One of the hostages who escaped narrated how the assailants took the body of their dead colleague along with them. Regrettably, a soldier lost his life during the encounter, while another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries.

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

Providing an update on the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said four persons were abducted during the attack.

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

“One of the abducted victims was rescued, while the remains of the other three victims were later recovered.

“During the bush-combing exercise, a local hunter supporting the operation lost his life in an encounter with the fleeing criminals. The Command extends its condolences to his family.

“Sustained tactical pressure by the joint security team led to the neutralisation of one of the suspects, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the gang. The incident remains an isolated criminal attack.” (Adapted from a PUNCH report)

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