Unidentified gunmen have killed a Saudi Aramco employee in his home, in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Premium Times reported attackers had broken into a compound on Saturday night, in Idah, in Kogi State.
The newspaper reported four masked men had forced their way into the house and shot Ogacheko Atanu. The engineer had been due to travel to Abuja on Sunday and then fly to Saudi Arabia.
Local authorities have voiced their determination to solve the crime. Idah local government area chairman Abuh Odoma commiserated with Atanu’s family. “The perpetrators of the heinous crime would be brought to book and shall not go unpunished,” Odoma said.
“We shall work round the clock to ensure that the already secured peace is not destroyed by bad people.”
Shell Nigeria had employed Atanu before he began working for Aramco as a drilling engineer. Aramco has not commented on the death.
There have been no suggestions about who might have carried out the attack. There have been various attacks and reprisals among communities and Fulani herders.
In December, seven gunmen attacked a military checkpoint in Okene, around 100 km from Idah, killing two naval officers.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to Kogi State. It has warned that extremist groups operate in the region.