A construction staff with Julius Berger Plc from Germany was on Friday, October 24, 2014, murdered by a group of assailants suspected to be kidnappers on his way to Ogbere in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State in the company of his colleague who was kidnapped by the assailants afterwards.
According to Punch reports, the victims were said to be on their way to their quarry and were without their usual escorts, when the incident happened.
It was learnt that the incident happened when the driver conveying them wa trying to turn when the assailants started a sporadic shoot out on their vehicle which led to the instant death of the German national who was a sub-contractor with the firm until his death.
Confirming the incident, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the police operatives disclosed that the incident happened while the duo wre on their way to the quarry adding that the force are doing everything possible to track down the hoodlums.
He said, “The hoodlums accosted the expatriates on the way to their quarry. They hid in the bush and as soon as they sighted their vehicle coming, they opened fire on them.
“One of the expatriates was hit by the bullet, in the process, his colleague was also abducted. The one that was hit by the bullet was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.”
Also confirming the incident was the Head of the Communications Department, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Lena Jaber who disclosed that the company has collaborated with the government to ensure a safe release of the abducted staff.
“I can confirm that several members of the company staff, along with the subcontractor, were attacked along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway; they were in Ogun State. Actually, they were in two cars, moving separately, without escorts. Subsequently, one expatriate was shot and he died, while the other was abducted,” she said.
She added, “Other details regarding negotiations are actually under wraps now. Our priority is to work with the Nigerian authorities to make the release of the abducted expatriate possible. Therefore, we want to keep some confidential information to ourselves.”
