A soldier was killed and a Chinese expatriate abducted in the early hours of Monday when suspected kidnappers attacked a construction site in Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Sources in the area revealed that the assailants, who were said to be in large numbers, stormed the site where a Chinese construction company is currently working. The soldier, who was deployed to protect the workers, was fatally shot during the ambush.
“They came early this morning and overpowered the soldier before whisking away one of the Chinese workers,” a local source who pleaded anonymity told Leadership.
The attackers reportedly fled the scene in a getaway vehicle, which was later found abandoned near the Radio Kogi Booster Station at Otite, a few metres from the kidnap site.
A joint team of the military, police, local hunters, and vigilantes launched a rapid response and pursued the abductors into the surrounding bush.
According to the source, the hot chase forced the criminals to release the abducted Chinese national, who was later recovered by the rescue team.
“The joint task force is still combing the bushes in the area to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” the source added.
He commended the efforts of the security personnel but called for increased security presence.
“The soldiers tried their best to resist the attack, but they were outnumbered. The government needs to deploy more men to this and other vulnerable areas,” he said.
