Troops of the 35 Artillery Brigade, in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Police, have foiled a kidnapping attempt targeting Chinese expatriates at Magbon Village in the Mowe axis of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 35 Artillery Brigade, Maj. Idereghi Samuel Akari, disclosed that the incident occurred on Monday during a joint patrol operation when the security team responded to a distress call at a dredging site where expatriate workers were operating.

He said the patrol team was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

According to him, one of the attackers was neutralised, while the remaining assailants abandoned their mission and fled through surrounding forest terrain towards the Ogun River, taking five hostages as human shields in an attempt to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

Akari added that four of the hostages were later killed by the fleeing attackers before they escaped through the river channel using a boat.

He further stated that one escaped hostage narrated how the assailants also took the body of their deceased colleague with them during their withdrawal.

He regretted that 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,” he said.

Following the incident, he noted that the Quick Response Force and other security agencies have intensified patrols and surveillance in the area to restore calm and prevent further security breaches.