Q&A: Growing Demand in Africa for China’s Private Security Contractors

Three Chinese miners in the Southwestern Nigerian state of Osun were kidnapped at gunpoint last week, with one reportedly shot while trying to flee. Although all three hostages were released a few days later, the abduction once again reminded Chinese stakeholders across the continent as to how vulnerable they are, both in terms of personnel security and protecting assets from vandalism, theft or terrorism.

Neither Osun state police or the Chinese mining company released much information about the kidnapping, specifically who may have done it and whether a ransom was paid to expedite their release.