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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Five killed, including soldier and hostages, in Nigerian dredging site attack

From ThisDay · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Gunmen attacked a dredging site in Ogun State, Nigeria, targeting Chinese expatriates.
  • The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, including a soldier and four hostages.
  • Security forces engaged the attackers, neutralizing one and pursuing the fleeing criminals who used hostages as human shields.

A violent kidnapping attempt at a dredging site in Ogun State, Nigeria, has resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including a soldier and four hostages. The incident occurred early Monday morning when gunmen stormed the site in Magbon Village, Mowe, reportedly targeting Chinese expatriate workers.

The incident occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026, when the joint security patrol was ambushed by armed men suspected to be kidnappers while responding to a distress call at a dredging site where the expatriate workers were engaged in operations.

— Idereghi AkariAssistant Director Army Public Relations detailing the start of the incident.

Eyewitnesses reported that a soldier protecting the site was killed, and another sustained injuries. During a subsequent search operation, a local hunter assisting security forces also lost his life in an encounter with the fleeing assailants. The Nigerian Army confirmed the events, stating that troops, in collaboration with the police, responded to a distress call at the dredging site.

According to a statement from the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Idereghi Akari, a fierce exchange of gunfire ensued. The army neutralized one attacker, but the remaining assailants reportedly used five hostages as human shields to escape through the surrounding forest towards the Ogun River. The statement indicated that the kidnappers killed four of the hostages before fleeing via a river channel with a boat.

A fierce exchange of fire ensued, during which one of the attackers was neutralized. The remaining assailants reportedly abandoned their mission and withdrew through surrounding forest terrain towards the Ogun River, taking five hostages as human shields to evade pursuit by a Quick Response Force deployed as reinforcement.

— Idereghi AkariAssistant Director Army Public Relations describing the confrontation and hostage-taking.

Akari also confirmed the death of a soldier and injuries to another soldier and two police officers. The deceased soldier and the recovered bodies of the four victims have been taken to the General Hospital in Sagamu, while the injured personnel are receiving medical treatment. Security agencies have intensified patrols in the area to restore calm and prevent further incidents.

The four hostages were later killed by the fleeing attackers before they escaped through the river channel with a boat.

— Idereghi AkariAssistant Director Army Public Relations confirming the deaths of the hostages.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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