A delegation of Chinese operatives has visited a forest in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, following a violent kidnapping incident that claimed the lives of two police officers and led to the abduction of a Chinese expatriate and a Nigerian worker.
The attack occurred last week at a mining site in Oreke-Oke community. Armed men, said to be in large numbers, invaded the site at about 6:30 p.m., killed two mobile police officers, and abducted two workers: Mr. Sam Xie Wie, a Chinese investor, and Mr. David Adenaiye, a Nigerian technician from Kogi State.
The slain officers were identified as ASP Haruna Watsai and Inspector Tukur Ogah, both of whom were attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force Unit based in Abuja.
The daring attack sent shockwaves through the relatively quiet community and further underscored the worsening security situation across several parts of Kwara State.
Security sources have confirmed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of ₦1 billion for the release of the abducted victims. Intelligence analysts believe the gang may be linked to a broader criminal network operating across state borders.
In response to the abduction, a team of Chinese operatives arrived in Nigeria and was received in Abuja before proceeding to Kwara State under police escort. A senior security official involved in the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the team visited the crime scene despite the late hour of arrival.
“They arrived in Abuja first and were led by a Divisional Crime Officer to the Kwara State Police Command,” the source revealed. “From there, they moved to Oreke forest. They surveyed the area, took soil and environmental samples, and documented key findings. We returned to Ilorin after midnight. They’ve gone back to China for now but promised to return.”
The visit is seen as a serious signal from Beijing, which is increasingly concerned about the safety of its nationals working in high-risk regions in Nigeria, particularly in the mining and construction sectors.
Kwara State Police Command spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the identities of the abductees in an earlier statement but declined to comment further when contacted for updates. Attempts to reach her again were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, condemned the killing and abduction, describing the attack as "brutal, cowardly, and unacceptable." He assured the public that a coordinated rescue operation involving tactical teams and intelligence units was already underway.
“We will not rest until those behind this heinous act are apprehended and the abducted individuals rescued,” the commissioner said. “We are working closely with other security agencies and utilizing all available intelligence to track down the perpetrators.”
As the search and rescue mission continues, the incident has drawn attention to the growing dangers facing foreign investors and Nigerian workers in the country’s rural mining corridors—areas increasingly plagued by violent crimes, including banditry and kidnapping-for-ransom.
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