Two German engineers shot dead in Nigeria

Two German engineers in the employ of construction giant, Julius Berger, were shot dead while on a motorcycle trip on Saturday.

The deceased hailed from the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and were aged 34 years and 50 years, respectively.

Ostseezeitung, a German regional newspaper, said the men have lived in Nigeria for years.

Confirming their deaths in Berlin on Wednesday, Germany’s foreign ministry said its embassy in Abuja was working closely with Nigerian security forces to get clarification on the incident.

“Unfortunately, we can confirm that two German nationals were killed in Nigeria last weekend,” a spokesman of the ministry told AFP.

“The German embassy in Abuja is seeking clarification and is in close contact with Nigerian authorities.”

This is not the first time that such a fate would befall Julius Berger in recent times.

One of its German sub-contractors was killed near Sagamu, Ogun state in October.

The victim was reported to have been shot as he was trying to flee from abductors, who subsequently kidnapped his colleague who accompanied him during the unfortunate trip.

The abductee regained freedom three days later.

Meanwhile, an Abeokuta chief magistrates court remanded two persons in prison on Wednesday, over the death as well as the kidnap of the Julius Berger official.

Gloria Nyang, the prosecuting counsel, alleged that the accused, Umaru Ibrahim, 33, and Saidu Muhammed, 30, committed the offences at Ogbere, Ijebu east local government area of Ogun state.

She said the accused conspired to cause the death of the victim in the attempt to kidnap him.

Nyang said the offences contravened sections 516, 364 (2) and 316 (3) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused persons had no fixed address, occupation and counsel and their pleas were not taken by the court.

Anthony Araba, the chief magistrate, remanded the accused in Oba prison while awaiting legal advice from the director of public prosecution in the state.

He adjourned the case till February 27, 2015 for further hearing.