Police hunt kidnappers of Chinese language in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command said that it has commenced an investigation into the abduction of a Chinese national identified as Williams Zang, who was allegedly kidnapped in a hotel on the outskirts of Ilorin, the state capital, on Sunday.

The foreigner, according to a credible source, was said to have been attacked by about six gunmen around 10pm on Sunday night at a guest house and taken into the bush.

The police command, while confirming the abduction, said the foreigner was taken to the bush on a motorcycle.

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, read, “On the night of March 10, 2024, at about 2200 hours, our attention was drawn to an unfortunate incident that occurred at Cherish Guest House, an isolated facility situated on the outskirts of Ilorin.

“A group of armed men, numbering six arrived at the guest house premises.

“The gunmen fired several shots into the air, causing panic among nearby residents. Our patrol team responded to the scene promptly and found the guest house securely locked.

“However, 30 minutes later, the manager of the guest house, Mr Idume David Joseph, 28 years old, reported at Eiyenkorin police station. He disclosed that six armed men had forcibly entered the guest house and abducted a Chinese national identified as Williams Zang.

“Williams, a former employee of Erkang Quarry, had been lodging at the guest house for over two months prior to the incident. The assailants utilised the manager’s vehicle, a black Toyota Venza with registration number Lagos FST 701 HG, to transport the victim.

“Subsequently, our tactical teams combed the entire area and its neighbourhoods, which led to the recovery of the aforementioned vehicle along Ilorin/Ogbomosho Road at about 0030 hours.

“It is suspected that the perpetrators employed a standby motorcycle to transport the victim further into the bush from the main road. At present, three suspects have been apprehended, and investigations are ongoing.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Victor Olaiya, assures citizens of Kwara that our primary focus remains the safe rescue of the victim and apprehending the assailants as local vigilantes are working in synergy with the Command’s Tactical Teams assiduously,.”

In 2021, Switzerland confirmed that a Swiss national and his driver were kidnapped in Nigeria after authorities in the West African country said gunmen had opened fire on his police escort.

Also, the Oyo State Police Command said that its men were on the trail of two foreigners who were kidnapped by suspected hoodlums.

The two foreigners (names not given) were reportedly kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a pharmaceutical firm, close to the Toll Gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.