Three Chinese employees were kidnapped and their police escort was killed in a dispute over Gold mining in Nigeria.
Three Chinese employees were kidnapped and their police escort was killed in a dispute with local laborers at a gold mine in Nigeria’s southwestern state of Osun, AFP said on April 4, citing news provided by Nigerian police.
The gold mine is located in the Atakumosa area of Osun State. “Three Chinese nationals were kidnapped at the site after a dispute with local laborers,” Yemisi Opalola, a spokeswoman for the Osun state police, told AFP. She also said that the guards who were following the foreigners were killed in the incident.
Oparola could not immediately confirm that the laborers had kidnapped the Chinese, but said an investigation into the incident had been launched. She said, “We have also deployed our men in the surrounding bush in the hope of obtaining the release of these Chinese.”
AFP said Chinese companies are working on multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects in Nigeria, including mining, railroads, airports and roads. Chinese workers can also be kidnapped by kidnapping gangs for ransom.
Last July, four Chinese workers were kidnapped from a quarry in Nigeria’s southern state of Cross River, where their guards were shot dead. The Chinese were released after being held for a month.
Reports say the kidnappings, which used to be common in Nigeria’s oil-producing southern region, have recently spread to other areas.
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