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| militants |
Five expatriates and two Nigerians, who work at the
MacMahon Construction Company, in the Calabar-Oban Road, Cross River
State, have been kidnapped by suspected militants.
The abductees were taken as they were approaching Idundu Bridge. Their security detail, four armed policemen could not save them, report says.
Luckily, one of the Australians named Tim Croot, travelling with a Nigerian driver identified as Henshaw, were able to escape.
However, another driver named Matthew, was killed during the operation.An eyewitness named Akpan Akpan, gave an account of the incident.
He said, “I
was coming back from the farm this morning when the incident occurred.
The kidnappers came down from the bridge, shot the driver of the vehicle
and took the victims away through the river.”
“The vehicles conveying the expatriates and the two Nigerians were abandoned by the roadside with the dead body of the driver.”
“From all indications, it appeared like the expatriates were going to work at the Lafarge Holcim plant in Mfamosing.”
Mr.
Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State,
confirmed the attack. According to him, the police is working with the
Nigerian Navy to rescue those kidnapped.
“The
police are aware of the matter. Five persons were kidnapped. They
include three Australians, one South African, two Nigerians and one
other.”
“The driver of the vehicle was shot dead. The police will ensure that the victims are released unharmed.”
Viola Graham-Douglas, the Communications Officer of Lafarge, issues a statement confirming the kidnapping of its workers.
The statement read, “One
of our contractors, MacMahon, has informed us that a security incident
has occurred on the road from Calabar involving some of their employees.
“MacMahon is working with the security agencies to resolve the situation,”The Niger Delta is now fast returning to the days of old, where militancy and abduction of foreign workers was a trend.
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