Gunmen Kidnap Two Expatriates, Kill Two Policemen in Kogi

Yekini Jimoh

Two expatriates working on the Obajana-Oshokoshoko road construction in Kogi State have been kidnapped by some gunmen as two police officers attached to them were also killed.

THISDAY yesterday reliably gathered from an eyewitness account who narrowly escaped from the scene of the action that the incident occurred last Monday, saying the gunmen were suspected to be kidnappers.

According to the source, the incident happened at about 7p.m., adding that the gunmen numbering about 15, were fully armed with AK47, emerged from the bush.

He stated that while one of the foreign nationals identified as Jose Machada was inspecting an ongoing road construction, the Obajana-Kabba project being handled by AG Dangote Company Limited, the gunmen opened fire which led to gun battle between the police and the suspected kidnappers, killing one of them identified as Sgt Gini John on the spot while the second policeman, Inspector Ezekiel Negedu, who was also shot, died later at the hospital.

THISDAY further gathered that the gunmen kidnapped the expatriate engineers and fled into the bush with them.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. William Aya, confirmed the incident.

He added that two of their men died in the process while the expatriates were kidnapped in the process.

The state police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police immediately directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operations and other operatives to move to the bushes to rescue abducted expatriates.

Aya said the state police commissioner has personally visited the scene of the incident, promising that efforts were being made to rescue them..