By Oginyi Ruth
Armed wielding hoodlums have reportedly kidnapped two Chinese nationals at a construction site at Ivo River in Ohauzara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The victims, Sun Zhixin and Wang Quing Hu, both male working with Tongyi Construction Company, were attacked around 3:30pm on 24th of April, 2019 by a group of masked armed men.
It was gathered that the Chinese nationals were in a ditch at a place called Ivo River when the gunmen invaded the place and force the workers at the site out of the pit and whisked the two Chinese at the site to unknown location.
The company is said to be constructing Ogwu access road connecting Ohauzara communities with its neighbouring communities in Ivo local government and okpanku community in Enugu State.
Sources told WARRI TODAY that while they were in the pit, a group of armed men numbering five wearing masked came and force them out.
The eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the hoodlums spoke in Hausa language when they stormed the site for their targets with one of them pleading with the abductors not to kill their victims.
Our sources said they suspect the kidnappers are herdsmen operating in the area as they repeatedly spoke in Hausa language before leaving the site with the two Chinese nationals.
Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odah Loveth, confirmed the kidnapped when contacted, saying police have dispatched men to rescue the victims unhurt.
According to her, Based on the information the CP Awoshola Awotinde, led tactical team to the construction site, owned by Tongyi group of companies located at Ivo River at the boundary between Ebonyi and Enugu state where the two victims were forcefully taken away.
She said, “The area was combed to track down the bandits but no result, a track down rescue team has been dispatched to move on in other to rescue the Chinese nationals unhurt.”
The PPRO appealed for adequate information from the general public that will help the police in their investigation.
She expressed shock that the company moved to such lonely site without applying for security from the police.
She said efforts are on top gear to rescue the kidnapped victim but nearby communities and state should help Ebonyi with any information at their disposal.
The Site manager explained that they have worked for five months without any security challenge in site and that was why they never applied for security he was however advised to officially apply for security in the site without further delay.
