Abductions for ransom are common in southern Nigeria where foreigners and prominent citizens are regularly targeted. “I can confirm to you that four Chinese workers were abducted last night by unknown gunmen,” Cross River state police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo told AFP. She added that a police sergeant guarding the foreigners was shot dead by the attackers and that officers were searching for the kidnappers. “They shot into the air while one aimed at the police, killed him and collected his gun before going for the Chinese (workers),” he told AFP. Victims of kidnappings are often released unhurt after ransom payments.

Source: The Guardian July 22, 2020 13:41 UTC