Gunmen have kidnapped three Chinese employees working on a hydroelectric dam project in central Nigeria, also killing two local workers, police said Thursday.
The assailants attacked employees of the “Sino Hydro” project in Niger State on Tuesday afternoon, state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement.
“The police team attached to the facility engaged the offenders in a gun duel, four expatriates were rescued, but one of them and two local employees were shot,” Abiodun said.
The two local employees later died in hospital. “During the duel, three expatriates were abducted while trying to reach safety,” the statement said. In Africa’s most populous country, criminal gangs often target foreign workers employed on infrastructure projects for ransom.
Chinese employees have been targeted several times in Nigeria in recent months while working on multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects, including mines, railroads, airports and roads.
Although authorities rarely confirm giving money, victims are usually released after paying a ransom.