Three Chinese expatriates have been kidnapped and their police escort killed following a misunderstanding with local labourers at a mining site in Akere, Ifewara in Atakumosa-West local government area of Osun State.
It was gathered that a fight ensued between the expatriates and labourers, mainly from the North, on Monday, after an argument over an issue yet to be made public.
The state police spokeswoman, Yemisi Opalola, told AFP that an officer attached to the expatriates was killed, while three Chinese men were abducted during the scuffle.
“The three Chinese nationals were abducted following a dispute with local labourers at the site,” Opalola said, adding that the police guard attached to the foreigners was killed in the incident.
Opalola could not immediately say if the labourers were responsible for the Chinese kidnapping, but added that an investigation had been launched.
“We have also deployed our operatives to the surrounding bushes with a view to securing the release of the Chinese,” she said.
This is coming two months after a Chinese expatriate who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ekiti State, regained freedom after the payment of N100 million ransom.