Gunmen ambush Mining convoy in Kogi, kill Soldier, kidnap four Chinese

Tragedy struck in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State when heavily armed assailants ambushed a mining company convoy, killing a Nigerian soldier and abducting four Chinese expatriates.

The incident, which occurred on September 19 at Saminaka in the Ejiba area, targeted staff of Vau & Co. Mining Company who were being escorted to a mining site by security operatives.

According to credible security sources, the gunmen opened fire on the convoy in a surprise attack.

“In the attack, one soldier, a private from 12 Brigade, Lokoja, was shot dead, while Inspector Jubril Mohammed of 45 Police Mobile Force, Force Headquarters Abuja, sustained gunshot injury on his left arm,” the source confirmed to Zagazola Makama, a security expert.

The assailants seized four Chinese nationals identified as Mr. Zhou Dansu, Mr. Zhou Hai, Mr. Zhou Jiajun, and Mr. Fan Xiuguo, before escaping into surrounding forested terrain.

The wounded police officer is currently receiving treatment at ECWA Hospital, Egbe, and his service rifle was reportedly secured despite the chaos of the attack.

Security forces, including operatives of the Nigerian Army, police units, local vigilantes, and hunters, have since launched a coordinated operation aimed at rescuing the kidnapped expatriates and tracking down the perpetrators.