British National Kidnapped in Nigeria

Nigeria Kidnapping: British National Taken

The British national was reportedly seized by armed men shortly after arriving at Lagos airport.

4:01pm UK, Friday 19 July 2013


The man was kidnapped after leaving Lagos International Airport on Tuesday





A British national has been kidnapped shortly after landing at Lagos International Airport in Nigeria, the British High Commission has revealed.
Gunmen targeted a four-wheel drive car at around 8.30pm on Tuesday after it left the airport's international terminal, seizing the British man who was returning to a residential area of Lagos, according to security sources.
The Nigerian driver of the vehicle was shot but survived.
In a statement, the British High Commission (BHM) said: "The BHM is working closely with others to secure the release of the hostage.
"Because of the nature of this incident, the BHM is not going into further detail about it."
Major companies with British connections operating in Nigeria include oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, British Airways, Unilever and PricewaterhouseCoopers. There was no indication of where the kidnapped man was employed.
Kidnapping of expatriates and Nigerians by armed gangs seeking ransom has been rife in Nigeria's oil producing southeast, but is rarer in Lagos were most foreigners live.
Four Chinese nationals and the three-year-old son of a state legislator have previously been reported kidnapped this month.
Risk analysts Drum Cussac have reported a "noticeable upsurge" in the number of kidnappings in the southwest of the country, including Lagos.
The consultancy said: "Foreign nationals were targeted in the affluent Lagos areas of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Epe-Lekki, sparking speculation that organised criminal gangs have renewed their focus on the city's upscale districts given their relatively permissive security environments."

"We can confirm the release of a British national today in Nigeria, following his abduction on 16 July," a statement from the British High Commission said, giving no further details.

 LAGOS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police said Monday a British national, who was kidnapped last week after unknown gunmen ambushed his car near an airport in Nigeria's economic and commercial capital Lagos, has been rescued by the police.

A police official told Xinhua that the man was rescued by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), without paying any ransom.

One suspect was arrested from the gang's hideout, the official added.

Attempts to reach the British High Commission in Nigeria and local police spokesperson to confirm the release was unfruitful.

The Briton was abducted on July 16 by unknown gunmen who shot his driver after he left Lagos Murtala International Airport.

In March, a Briton was ambushed and kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the Victoria Island of Lagos, and was later released.

High-profile kidnappings and abductions of foreigners for ransom are rampant in Nigeria's southern oil-rich states and most victims were released unharmed after ransoms were paid.

The Nigerian militant group Boko Haram and another sect Ansaru have recently claimed responsibility for the abduction of some foreigners.