Lagos | Two Chinese workers at a gold mine in southwestern Nigeria were kidnapped by gunmen who shot and wounded their two security guards, Nigerian police said on Wednesday.
The kidnapping took place Monday afternoon in the village of Okepa Itikan in Osun state, police spokeswoman Yemisi Opalola said in a statement.
“A gang of criminals attacked and kidnapped the two Chinese nationals,” identified as Zhao Jian, 33, and Wen, 50, were working at a mining site, she said without specifying the name of the mining company employing them. the two men.
The two private guards were injured and hospitalized, the statement added.
Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, especially in the oil-producing south, and Chinese companies are popular targets for this crime.
On February 1, three Chinese were kidnapped and their police escort killed following a dispute with workers at a mining site in Atakumosa region, Osun state. They were released after spending almost a week in captivity.
Last July, four Chinese were kidnapped from a quarry in southern Cross River State and released a month later.