Photo: Screenshot of videos circulating on Twitter

Extreme populists took advantage of African workers' frustration during a prolonged lockdown to plot an attack against a Chinese company in Nigeria, according to a source in Nigeria reached by the Global Times, noting that these workers have been properly dealt with following coordination from all sides.   

According to videos circulating on Twitter and China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo since Wednesday, a number of Nigerian youths were seen gathering at the gate of a factory and burning some items.

Some posts claimed that these youths were protesting against poor working conditions in a local Chinese factory and unpaid salaries.

The irate youths committed the act to the Chinese company for allegedly locking its workers inside their facility despite the stay-at-home order of the federal government following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, Nigeria-based This Day reported.

According to a Chinese businessman in Nigeria reached by the Global Times late Wednesday, these youths were workers of the Wangkang ceramics factory in the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

The zone has been locked down to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic at the order of the local government. Most of the workers at Wangkang have gone back home, with about 1,000 voluntarily continuing to stay at the factory, media reported.   

However, those staying at the factory became discontent after some ten days of isolation in the factory, according to the source reached by the Global Times.

Provoked by some extreme populists, they colluded with workers outside and launched the attack, burning tires at the gate of the FTZ and asking for a huge amount of compensation, the source said.

As of Tuesday night, all of the workers have received their salaries and travel expenses and the issue has been properly dealt with under the coordination of the zone, the targeted Chinese company, Chinese embassy and local governments.

The source confirmed with Global Times that no personnel, property or equipment in the FTZ were hurt or damaged during the protest.

The FTZ and the Wangkang factory had informed workers in advance of the lockdown and gave them freedom to decide whether to stay to leave. Those who left received their salaries and travel expenses while those who stayed continued to work as usual, with the factory providing accommodation and food, according to the source, who noted that the FTZ had kept in close communication with African workers remaining in the zone during the lockdown. 

Nigeria initiated a 14-day lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun on March 30. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Monday announced a 14-day extension to lockdowns in the three regions to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria reported 34 new COCID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 407, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

The prolonged lockdowns have caused frustration and resentment among Nigerians due to massive income losses, according to Nigerians reached by the Global Times.