Guards shot as gunmen kidnap two Chinese miners in Osun

Gunmen have abducted two Chinese nationals from a mining site in Okepa/Itikan village, in the Ifewara area of Osun state.

The gunmen shot two private guards attached to the site as they took away the expatriates.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

Opalola said the state Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode, had launched a manhunt on the trail of the kidnappers.

The statement read in part, “On April 5, 2021, around 4pm, a gang of criminals attacked and abducted two Chinese nationals namely: Zhao Jian, 33, and Wen, 50, at Okepa/Itikan village, the gold mining site in Ifewara, Osun State.

“Two of the private guards were also shot at and have been taken to the general hospital for treatment.

“Sequel to this, the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, immediately drafted a strong combined reinforcement of police tactical units, JTF, and other security outfits, which have embarked on search-and-rescue operation for the two abducted Chinese persons and possible arrest of all the fleeing criminals.”

The Osun CP also sought the collaboration of the residents by making credible and prompt information available to the police.