Gunmen Abduct 2 Chinese Nationals, Kill 5 Nigerians in Lokoja

Gunmen attacked a mining site on the outskirts of Lokoja in Zango City, leading to the abduction of two Chinese nationals and the killing of five Nigerians. The attack, which occurred on Monday evening, has left the community in shock and fear.

The assailants, reportedly around 20 in number and heavily armed, invaded the site at approximately 5 PM. The assault lasted for about 45 minutes, during which three vigilante members and two mining site staff were killed. The victims were identified by locals as Abdulazeez, Tijani, and Yusuf.

Eyewitnesses described the chaos that ensued as the sounds of sporadic gunfire echoed from the hills behind Al Azhar International School. The gunfire prompted residents and shop owners to flee, seeking refuge in safer areas. Abdul, a local shop owner, recounted, “Initially, we did not know what was happening. 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.”

A hunter who assisted in the aftermath confirmed the grim scene, stating that the victims’ bodies were evacuated from the site. Despite attempts to reach out to the police for a statement, efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, William Anya, were unsuccessful.