Around 5 a.m. on January 5, 2007, five Chinese workers of a Chinese company from Sichuan province, who were working on the Nigerian Rural Telephony Network, were kidnapped by armed bandits in Emohua Local Government, Rivers State, Nigeria.

On receiving the report, the Chinese embassy in Nigeria immediately made representations to the relevant authorities of the Nigerian Government. Ambassador Xu Jianguo requested urgent audiences with the Mr. Baba Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Sunday Ehindero, the Inspector General of Police, respectively. Ambassador Xu expressed the deep concern of the Chinese Government over the hostages and urged the Nigerian side to take immediate measures for their early and safe release. The Nigerian side replied that its relevant authorities and the local government would rescue out the Chinese hostages by all means and ensure their safety.

Up to the moment, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the abduction. The Chinese embassy is still struggling via every channel to retrieve the hostages.