Kidnappers demanding the release of a Chinese expatriate, Mr Sam Xie Wie, and his Nigerian colleague, Mr David Adenaiye, have set a ransom of N1 billion following their abduction during an attack on a mining site in Kwara State.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed the ransom demand in a post on his verified X account on Friday. According to the analysis, the captors used the victims' mobile phones to contact an associate, Mr Leo Liang, to negotiate the sum.

The kidnapping occurred on Wednesday during a violent raid on the mining site, which also resulted in the deaths of two Police Mobile Force officers assigned to protect the expatriates.

Makama stated that security forces and local vigilante groups have launched a search operation to rescue the men safely.