ALMOST one week after they were abducted, three Chinese expatriates reportedly kidnapped by labourers they hired to work for them at a mining site in Osun State have yet to regain freedom.
The expatriates were kidnapped at Akere village in Ifewara after a disagreement with their labourers around 6pm last week Monday.
Since then, their abductors had refused to release them, even though the labourers were said to have contacted families of the victims and demanded for a sum of N500m.
In a chat on Sunday, a resident of Ifewara, who was part of the search and rescue team of joint security team involving the police, men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun and soldiers, said security team had been sleeping in the bush since the day the men were abducted.
The resident, who preferred not to be named, said the abductors, “are believed to be working with some people within the community,” which according to him, has so far frustrated the rescue efforts.
He, however, confirmed negotiation between the abductors of the miners and their relations, saying the security operatives were still combing the forest to secure their release.
When contacted, Police Spokesperson in Osun State, Yemisi Opalola, said the victims had not been rescued, but added that efforts were on to safely secure the release of the miners and apprehend the perpetrators.
