The People’s Republic of China has applauded Nigerian security agencies for the rescue of four of its citizens kidnapped in Kwara State.
The Chinese government praised the rescue operation reportedly carried out by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and the Police.
According to a statement on Sunday, the commendation was delivered by China’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, and conveyed at a formal handover held at the DSS medical facility in Abuja.
“Represented by the Consul of the embassy, Wang Jun, the ambassador lauded the DSS for the swift intelligence-led operation, which he stated resulted in the safe and timely rescue of the Chinese miners.
“The Chinese nationals, identified as Dansu Zhou, Zhou Hai, Zhou Jia Jun, and Fan Xiu Guo, were rescued on Saturday by a joint team of security operatives comprising the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), DSS, Nigerian Army and the Police,” the statement read.
The Consul also thanked the DSS for what he described as “the outstanding medical care the service gave the rescued foreigners at their medical facility in Abuja, saying the move significantly contributed to the well-being and quick recovery of the kidnapees.”
He added that the embassy had been surprised in a positive sense to discover the extent of the DSS medical capability when the rescued men were taken there for evaluation and treatment before being transferred to the Chinese embassy.
“Following their rescue, DSS operatives immediately took our citizens to their facility for medical evaluation.
“Then they were thoroughly examined by the best professionals before moving them to our embassy in Abuja,” said Xingwei.
The statement explained that the nationals were abducted by an armed gang on their way to a mining site.
“The Chinese nationals were ambushed and abducted by a gang of seven AK-47-wielding bandits, on their way to a mining site at Saminaka village, Yagba West LGA, Kogi state.”
The statement highlighted recent DSS actions that disrupted criminal syndicates, intercepted arms and ammunition, and dismantled illicit networks.
“It recalled that recent operations by the DSS across states in Nigeria have targeted criminal syndicates, leading to disruption of their activities, interception of arms and ammunition, and dismantling of their networks.
“Commendations have been pouring in for the Service for a recent major operation in Asaba, Delta State, in which the Service intercepted seven General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), arms and ammunition, with stakeholders describing the feat as evidence of the commitment of the DSS to tackling insecurity and restoring peace and stability across the country,” it said.
