Incident Overview
On August 12, 2024, in Ogun State’s Kemta/Abule-Owu area, kidnappers seized Chen Wenguang and Liang Ding along Onigbedu Road. The abduction of the two Chinese nationals took place around 1:45 PM on Sunday. They had just left their workplace, Good One Carton Company, to reportedly visit nearby friends.
Abduction Details
An anonymous police source stated that the expatriates did not notify their company’s security, which includes police and military, of their departure. Chen Wenguang and Liang Ding casually informed a few colleagues about their plan to visit Kemta Village. The village is located just a kilometre away from their workplace. Upon receiving a ransom demand from the kidnappers, the company alerted the police to their disappearance.
Police Response
Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the abduction. She detailed that security forces, including local vigilantes and military personnel from the Social Orientation and Safety Corps, were mobilized following the ransom demand. Local hunters also joined the extensive searches in and around the Kemta Village forest. Despite these efforts, they have not yet succeeded in locating Wenguang and Ding.
Ongoing Efforts
The efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped individuals are ongoing. The police and other security groups are working tirelessly to trace the whereabouts of the abductors and safely recover the hostages.
Context of Security Concerns
This abduction mirrors a similar incident from May 3, 2024, when kidnappers abducted three Indian nationals on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The release of those victims after three days in captivity underscores a troubling pattern of kidnappings targeting foreign nationals in the region.
Call to Action
The police urge anyone with information that could lead to the recovery of the kidnapped expatriates to come forward. The community is reminded to remain vigilant and to immediately report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
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