BREAKING: Gunmen kill 5 Nigerians, kidnap 2 Chinese in Kogi

Gunmen launched a deadly attack on a mining site located on the outskirts of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, resulting in the tragic deaths of five security personnel and the abduction of two Chinese nationals.

The incident unfolded when a large group of armed assailants raided the mining site in Zango City on Monday. Among those killed were three vigilante members and two staff members of the mining site.

Locals said the unfortunate attack occurred in the evening at about 5 pm and lasted for about 45 minutes when sounds of sporadic gunshots emanated from the hilly range behind Al Azhar International School. They said the suspected gunmen were about 20, with many of them bearded.

It was gathered that while the audible gunshots from the mountain were unrelenting, people hurriedly closed their shops, and panic-stricken locals abandoned their homes to take cover in other places considered safe.

A hunter who preferred not to be named claimed to have participated in evacuating the corpses, identifying the deceased vigilantes simply as Abdulazeez, Tijani, and Yusuf, said gory photos of their remains were sighted.

Abdul, a resident and shop owner in Zango, said he heard the sounds of the gunshots, “Initially, we did not know what was happening, and the gunshots were loud. I had to leave the area along with other people out of fear. This is very bad and worrisome in the state capital. We urge the government to step up security in the state.”

Efforts to reach the police including telephone calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, William Anya, did not yield results.