The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce has denied paying ransom to kidnappers who abducted a Chinese in Ekiti state and faulted some sections of the Nigerian media for publicising an unverified story about the incident.
The Chamber in a statement made available to Blueprint in Abuja on Friday, however, cautioned that dissemination and circulation of unverified misinformation posed severe potential security risks to the Chinese business community in Nigeria.
The group also said the report was capable of tarnishing the reputation of Nigeria’s business environment, which according to it, is gradually improving.
“The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce has recently noticed a news report published by various Nigerian media outlets, which quoted a so-called insider disclosure of an astronomical ransom paid to kidnappers in Ekiti State during the rescue operation of one unfortunate Chinese abductee.
“The so-called “disclosure” has already been debunked by the Ekiti State police authority. And after seeking verification from the involved company and various sources, the Chamber has confirmed that the narrative in the reports contradicts with fact in many ways and is far from being authentic.
“The public dissemination and circulation of such unverified misinformation is certainly acquiescence towards such felony offences, posing severe potential security risks towards the Chinese business community, and rendering grave threat towards every single diligent Chinese expatriate and other foreign nationals living in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, such a report would tarnish the reputation of Nigeria’s business environment, which is gradually improving under the co-endeavour of the federal government and every patriotic Nigerian, causing great panic and hesitation among potential foreign investors,” the Chamber said.
