Lagos – Two Nigerian men working on the Lagos Blue line rail were reportedly assaulted by a soldier acting on the order of a Chinese man – said to be an expatriate of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The Chinese company was awarded the contract of the electric rapid transit line that runs in Lagos, the Nigeria’s commercial hub
The assault by the Nigerian soldier following the directive by the Chinese man happened on Friday at the Abule Ado axis of the construction project, eyewitnesses said.
One of the witnesses said the two men had attempted to join the back cabin of the company’s Toyota Hilux after close of work.
This, it was learnt, infuriated the Chinese national who then ordered a soldier attached to him to “deal extensively with them till to his satisfaction”.
The assault was said to be the third in the last one month to Nigerian workers with CCECC.
One of the eyewitnesses said: “Yesterday, at about 5:30pm after work, these two workers wanted to go home at the back of the Hilux. Meanwhile this Chinese man was inside. Immediately, they attempted to climb the back of the Hilux, he saw them and instructed the soldier with him to brutalise these workers.
“In the process the soldier started hitting the workers with gun and they were badly injured.
“This act has been on for long, I have witnessed two others in the last one month. To even think these workers are badly paid. They’re paid below ₦70,000, yet working hard from 7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Sunday.”
A second witness said: “It was so sad, it happened at Abule Ado yesterday, the Chinese man turned our security operative to slave. A soldier being paid by taxpayers was asked by a foreigner to brutalise same Nigerians, so sad. The army authorities should fish him out and deal with him.
“Even the Lagos State government should investigate this, these are the guys working day and night on the Lagos Blue rail construction from Marina to Okoko.”
The Nigerian Army spokesman Major General Onyema Nwachukwu could not be reached for comment.
A few weeks back, a Chinese national was caught on tape mutilating Naira notes after officials of the Lagos State government sealed his company for violating some laws.
The incident occurred at a Chinese-owned company along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
In the viral video, the Chinese national was seen resisting the officials’ attempts to shut down the company.
During the confrontation, he pulled Naira notes from his bag and tore them, sparking outrage on social media.
At the scene, some individuals believed to be Nigerian workers at the company appeared to shield the man from being apprehended by the Lagos State officials.
The incident subsequently generated widespread reactions, with many Nigerians demanding the arrest of the individual.
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