The Chinese business community in Nigeria has denied allegations that a Chinese national ordered the shooting of an immigration officer at a Chinese firm in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement, the Director General of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, Dr. Cui Guangzhen, refuted the claims, calling them “utterly false.”
“Our attention has been drawn to reports that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, condemned the shooting of an immigration officer allegedly on the orders of a Chinese company operating in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Dr. Guangzhen explained that an investigation by the Niger State police revealed that the incident occurred on February 21, 2025, during a police operation to arrest a local citizen suspected of stealing iron rods from a Chinese company. When the suspect resisted arrest, a police officer fired a shot that accidentally hit a passerby, later identified as an immigration officer.
“The China General Chamber of Commerce would like to clearly state that neither Chinese citizens nor Chinese companies were involved in the incident,” the statement added. “The allegation that a Chinese company employee ordered the shooting of a Nigerian immigration officer is entirely false.”
The Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to Nigerian laws and expressed its sympathy for the injured officer, wishing them a speedy recovery.
