Bloodbath in Ogun: Soldier, Four Hostages Killed as Gunmen Launch Deadly Attack on Chinese Expatriates

Bloodbath in Ogun: Soldier, Four Hostages Killed as Gunmen Launch Deadly Attack on Chinese Expatriates

June 9, 2026

A tragic security incident has unfolded in Ogun State after a Nigerian soldier and four hostages were killed during a failed abduction attempt targeting Chinese expatriates working at a dredging site in Magbon, Mowe, within Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.

The Nigerian Army confirmed the development on Tuesday, revealing that armed men suspected to be kidnappers launched a deadly ambush on a joint security team responding to a distress call from the area.

According to the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Major Idereghi Akari, the incident occurred on June 8, 2026, when troops and police officers on joint patrol moved to the location following reports of suspicious activities around the dredging site where Chinese expatriates were carrying out operations.

Akari explained that the security operatives came under heavy attack from the suspected kidnappers, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire. During the confrontation, one of the attackers was killed, while the remaining members of the gang retreated into the surrounding forest and headed towards the Ogun River.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the fleeing gunmen reportedly seized five individuals and used them as human shields to prevent pursuing security forces from engaging them. A Quick Response Force was immediately deployed to reinforce troops and track down the criminals.

However, the situation took a devastating turn when the kidnappers allegedly executed four of the hostages before escaping through the river channel in a boat.

“One of the hostages who managed to escape later narrated how the assailants took away the body of their dead colleague while fleeing,” Akari stated.

The Army spokesman described the incident as a tragic loss, noting that a soldier paid the ultimate price during the operation. He added that another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment.

“Regrettably, a soldier lost his life during the encounter, while another soldier and two police officers sustained gunshot injuries,” he said.

The bodies of the deceased soldier and the slain hostages have since been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Sagamu.

Following the attack, security agencies intensified operations across the area, with troops, police officers and other security personnel conducting aggressive patrols and surveillance aimed at restoring calm and preventing further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command provided additional details on the incident, confirming that four persons were abducted during the attack.

Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said operatives swiftly launched a coordinated search-and-rescue mission in collaboration with the military and other security stakeholders.

According to him, one of the abducted victims was successfully rescued, while the remains of three others were later recovered during ongoing operations.

Babaseyi also disclosed that a local hunter who joined security operatives in the search effort was killed while assisting in the bush-combing exercise.

“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,” he stated.

The police spokesperson added that sustained pressure from the joint security team led to the neutralisation of one suspect, while efforts remain underway to track down and arrest the remaining members of the gang.

He assured residents that security agencies have taken control of the situation and described the attack as an isolated criminal incident.

The deadly attack has once again raised concerns over the growing threat of kidnapping and violent crimes in parts of Ogun State, particularly in communities bordering forests and riverine areas that are often exploited by criminal gangs as escape routes.

Security authorities have vowed to continue the manhunt for the perpetrators and bring them to justice while strengthening security around critical business locations and expatriate-operated facilities across the state.