Gunmen have kidnapped three Chinese workers at a hydro-electric damn project in central Nigeria, with two local workers killed after clashes between the gang and security forces, police said on Thursday. Criminal gangs looking for ransom payments often target expatriate workers at infrastructure projects in parts of Africa’s most populous nation. “In the process of scampering for safety during the gun duel, three among the expatriates were abducted.”The two local staff died later in hospital, the statement said. Chinese employees have been targetted several times in Nigeria over the last few months as they work on multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects that include mining, railways, airports and roads. Victims are usually released after a ransom is paid although authorities rarely confirm if money changes hands.

Source: The Guardian January 06, 2022 12:53 UTC