Armed men have kidnapped four Chinese nationals at a mining site in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, leaving a soldier dead and a mobile policeman wounded.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, was carried out after the assailants reportedly laid siege to the site before whisking away the expatriates.
Security operatives engaged the gunmen but were overpowered, eyewitnesses said.
The incident comes less than two weeks after another assault in the same council claimed the lives of three policemen and two vigilante members, deepening fears among residents.
“We are under siege. Bandits are taking over, and our lives mean nothing to them. The government must act before more blood is spilled,” a villager lamented.
The injured policeman is said to be receiving treatment at a nearby facility, while local leaders are calling on authorities to step up surveillance to forestall further raids.
“These attacks are becoming routine, and our people feel abandoned. If urgent steps are not taken, we fear more tragedies will occur,” a community elder warned.
Kogi State has witnessed a surge in violent crimes in recent months, with mining sites and highways increasingly targeted by armed groups.