Macurdi, Nigeria: Police in Nigeria said gunmen kidnapped three Chinese citizens working in the country’s northern region, the latest incident in the violent cycle in the most populous country in Africa.
The gunmen also killed two Nigerians who worked with expatriates on Tuesday at the hydroelectric power plant which was being built in the state of Niger, the neighbor of the capital of Nigeria, Abuja.
Workers installed the transmission line tower at the factory in Gussase Village when the attackers arrived and fired fire, police spokesman Waiu Abodun said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The police tactical team attached to the facility involved criminals in a gun duel while four expatriates were saved,” AbioDun said, adding that with one of the Chinese workers and two local workers suffered a bullet injury.
He said “Agressive Manhunt” was ongoing to save three hostages.
The Ambassador of Cui Jianchun met with the Nigerian police chief of Alkali Baba on Thursday and urged him to crack down on crimes involving Chinese citizens with the “zero tolerance” attitude, according to a statement on the Chinese Embassy website.
“China is willing to work with Nigeria to continue deepening cooperation in law enforcement and security between the two countries,” Cui said.
There is no other detail given.
Criminal gang has kidnapped a number of foreigners in Nigeria, although security forces reduce the frequency of attacks for years.
Workers in the Delta Niger area are most widely targeted.
Ransom for hostages sometimes experience hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In November, the Chinese authorities issued a travel advisor who warned residents and their companies on a trip to the “ high-risk ‘region in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
The security situation throughout Nigeria has deteriorated under President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military general who served as the head of the Nigerian military during 1983-1985 before returning to power in 2015.