The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of a soldier and four hostages during a failed kidnapping attempt targeting Chinese expatriates in Magbon, Mowe, within Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The Army also disclosed that one suspected kidnapper was killed in the operation, while another soldier and two police officers suffered gunshot injuries.
The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Akari.
According to the Army, troops and police personnel were responding to a distress call near a dredging site where expatriate workers were carrying out operations when they came under attack from armed men suspected to be kidnappers.
The attack triggered a gun battle between the security team and the assailants, leading to the death of one of the suspected kidnappers.
The Army said the attackers later fled through a nearby forest towards the Ogun River, taking five hostages along as human shields to avoid arrest by a Quick Response Force that had been deployed to the area.
Akari said four of the hostages were eventually killed by the fleeing gunmen, while one victim escaped and informed security operatives that the kidnappers took away the body of their dead 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 further details, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said four persons were abducted during the incident.
He said security operatives immediately launched a coordinated rescue mission involving the police, military and other stakeholders.
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.”
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