Olu Samuel

Gunmen on Monday evening unleashed terror on the residents of Lokoja, the Kogi state capital killing five persons while two Chinese expartrates were abducted.

Our correspondent gathered that gunmen stormed a mining site located in Zango community, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The gunmen who allegedly attacked the mining site at about 5pm on Monday were reported to have ambushed and engaged the security guards attached to the victims, and two others in a gun duel when fiver persons including three vigilantes escorts

It was gathered that the gunmen allegedly shot and killed three Vigilante escorts and two other persons working with the Chinese expatriates.

Sources 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.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the unidentified gunmen numbering over 20, shot sporadically to disarm the security guards who were mainly Vigilante operatives.

Another source claimed that pandemonium broke out in the neighborhood when gunshots from the mountain became sporadic and unrelenting.

This led to confusion in the community as residents scampered for safety, closed their shops, while 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.

Abubakar, a resident and shop owner in another part of Zango, said he heard sounds of the gunshots as he was in the neighbourhood to check a friend at the time of the assault.

“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.”

All efforts to reach the state police command has do far proved abortive as all calls and messages to the public relations officer, SP William Aya have not been responded to as at the time of filing this report.