It’s Been a Violent Year for Chinese Workers in Africa

File photo of Nigerian security forces in northeastern Maiduguri. September 25, 2019. AUDU MARTE / AFP

Aside from everything else going on, 2020 is proving to be a rather violent year for Chinese workers in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Today’s news that yet another Chinese national was taken hostage by kidnappers who raided a construction site in Niger state follows a steady stream of similar reports over the past 4-6 months.

Just three days ago, four Chinese were freed after they had been kidnapped last month at a quarry site in Cross River state. Back in June, two Chinese managers at a mine in Ebonyi state were taken. And In February, attackers abducted a 65-year old Chinese man. He was later killed in Ogun state after his family failed to pay a ransom.

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