WARRI, Nigeria –  Police say gunmen have kidnapped two Chinese miners in central Nigeria.

Police say local hunters and others are helping them in “a very intense search” for the miners in the forest and bush of Nasarawa state.

Assistant police superintendent Numan Ismaila says gunmen ambushed the vehicle carrying the miners Friday afternoon on the road to Abuja, the capital.

They work for Chinese company West African Polaris Ltd., which mines tin and columbite.

Kidnappings of foreigners and locals are common all over Nigeria. Victims usually are returned unharmed once a ransom is paid.