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.

Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday afternoon attacked "workers comprised of some Chinese expatriates and local staff" at the Sino-Hydro project in Niger State who were working on a transmission line tower, state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement.

"Police tactical team attached to the facility engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel while four of the expatriates were rescued with one of them and two local staff sustaining bullet injury," Abiodun said.

"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.

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

UK watchdog urges halt to DR Congo dam project
Kinshasa (AFP) Dec 8, 2021
British NGO Global Witness Wednesday urged the Democratic Republic of Congo to halt a dam project it said would flood part of a national park and be an "ecological catastrophe". The $500-million plan for a hydropower dam to provide energy to mining companies in DRC's copper and cobalt belt appeared to break Congolese conservation law and threatened protected wildlife habitats, it said. "The Sombwe Dam project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo threatens tropical forests, rare species and co ... read more