Workers back home after Nigeria ordeal  

Nine Chinese workers who were kidnapped and held hostage for 11 days in Nigeria returned to Beijing yesterday.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and relevant companies greeted them at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

An unidentified armed group attacked a project operated by a Chinese oil company and kidnapped the nine workers on January 25 in southern Nigeria's Bayelsa State. Following diplomatic efforts, the workers were set free last Sunday.

"The Chinese government expressed gratitude to the Nigerian authorities and relevant parties involved in their release," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

She called on all Chinese workers employed overseas to better protect themselves.

The latest attack took place just four days after five kidnapped Chinese telecom workers returned to Beijing from Nigeria.

The five were seized in the State of Rivers on January 5 and were held hostage for 13 days.