Kidnappers who abducted a Chinese expatriate, Mr. Sam Xie Wie, and his Nigerian colleague, Mr. David Adenaiye, during a deadly raid on a mining site in Kwara State, have demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion for their release.
This was revealed in a post on Friday by renowned security analyst, Zagazola Makama, via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. According to Makama, the abductors contacted an associate of the victims, identified as Mr. Leo Liang, using the captives’ mobile phones to make their demands.
“The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of one billion naira. The call was placed using the phones of the victims,” Makama disclosed.
The abduction occurred on Wednesday when heavily armed assailants stormed the mining site in a violent attack that also claimed the lives of two officers from the Police Mobile Force who had been assigned to protect the expatriates.
The mining site, whose exact location within Kwara remains undisclosed for security reasons, has now become the focus of an intense manhunt as combined forces of security operatives and local vigilante groups have reportedly launched a coordinated search operation aimed at rescuing the victims unharmed.
Hobnob News gathered that the gunmen carried out the attack with precision, suggesting possible insider coordination or prior surveillance. The gun battle with security personnel was said to be fierce, leaving the community in fear as sounds of gunfire echoed across the area.
The Kwara State Police Command has yet to officially comment on the ransom demand, but sources within the security apparatus confirm that efforts are ongoing to track the perpetrators and secure the safe return of the hostages.
The rising trend of kidnappings, particularly targeting foreign nationals and strategic business operations, has continued to pose serious security concerns across Nigeria, with mining sites in resource-rich regions emerging as new hotspots.
The families of the victims, as well as the mining firm involved, have appealed for swift government intervention and improved protection for personnel operating in high-risk areas.
As of the time of filing this report, negotiations were reportedly ongoing, while security agencies intensify efforts to narrow down the kidnappers’ location and possibly launch a rescue operation.
Hobnob News will continue to monitor developments and provide timely updates.
