Gunmen abduct two Chinese nationals in Kwara amid rising kidnapping cases

Two Chinese nationals working on a major road construction project in Kwara State have been abducted by armed men, further heightening concerns over the growing wave of kidnappings in the state.

The victims were part of the team handling the BUA Bode Saadu–Kaiama–Kosubosu road project when the attackers, masked and heavily armed, stormed the construction site in the early hours of Monday.

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Witnesses said the gunmen fired multiple shots to disperse workers and residents before whisking the expatriates away. The incident occurred in the Ejidongari district of the Moro Local Government Area.

Adekimi Ojo, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the abduction on Thursday night via a telephone conversation. “Yes, the two Chinese were abducted from the construction site. But we have not heard from them yet as the kidnappers have not called as we speak,” he was quoted as saying.

The latest abduction adds to a troubling surge in kidnapping incidents across Kwara, where communities continue to grapple with insecurity driven by armed gangs. Security sources traced the rise in such crimes to a mix of poverty, unemployment, and widespread access to small arms—conditions that have emboldened criminal groups seeking ransom payments or asserting territorial influence.

In a separate incident, tension has gripped Isapa community in the Ekiti Local Government Area after terrorists who kidnapped 10 residents issued a one-week ultimatum for the payment of N300 million ransom. The victims were seized last Sunday, and despite days of negotiation, none has been released.

The abductors had initially demanded N500 million before lowering the ransom to N300 million, warning that failure to meet the deadline would result in the execution of the captives and a fresh attack on the town.

Ayo Adeyeye, chief hunter of Isapa, said the community appealed to the kidnappers and offered N5 million, but the gunmen rejected the offer. “Despite pleas from the community offering N5 million, the armed group rejected the offer, describing it as unacceptable and far below their expectations,” he told reporters.

As security agencies step up efforts to locate the abducted Chinese nationals and the Isapa captives, residents across the state remain on edge, fearful of further attacks amid the worsening insecurity.

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