From Joseph Obukata (The New Diplomat’s N’Delta Correspondent)
Unknown gunmen have taken four Chinese workers into custody after shooting dead their police guard at a quarry site in Oban, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The State Police spokesman, Irene Ugbo who confirmed the incident on Wednesday evening said that officers and men of the anti-kidnapping and cultism squad of the command, and the mobile policemen had been drafted to Oban on search and rescue mission.
She added that a police sergeant guarding the foreigners was shot dead by the attackers and that officers were searching for the kidnappers.
“I can confirm to you that four Chinese workers were abducted last night by unknown gunmen,” she told newsmen.
The police spokesperson could not immediately say the motive for the abduction but reports say a local community leader Dominic Akpan disclosed that there were six attackers armed with Kalashnikov rifles.
“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 journalists.
According to reports, the policeman who was killed was identified as Sergeant Ifere Sampson while the kidnapped Chinese are; Kan Jinxi, Hujin chang, Jiang Jijun and Cheng Qing.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at about 7.00 pm when some gunmen stormed the premises of Danatrite Construction located in Oban.
“Though I can’t tell the number of armed men but they stormed the company in about three flashy cars.
“The policeman who was guiding the premises of the company was shot and killed on the spot before the Chinese workers were abducted and carried away”, the source added.
