Gunmen Kidnap 7, Including Australians, South African in Calabar

“The employees who were abducted in the incident include three Australians, two Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African”, a statement released by the company said.

The workers were attacked on the outskirts of the city of Calabar, which is the capital of Cross River state in the Niger Delta region.

Irene Ugbo, a spokeswoman for Cross River state police, said the kidnappers had not contacted police.

A Nigerian driver was shot dead in the attack, while seven in total were kidnapped, including a South African and two Nigerians.

Lafarge Africa said it was informed of the incident by Macmahon, which carries out quarrying operations at the UniCems joint venture cement plant in Mfamosing near Calabar.

It is strongly suspected that another foreign national, a white man, escaped the kidnapper’s drag- net during the incident.

While Nigerian police commissioner Jimoh Ozi-Obeh said authorities are working alongside the Nigerian Navy to ensure all victims are released unharmed.

A spokesman said the ministry continued to seek more information on the situation and was also in contact with Australian authorities as well as the mining company.

Kidnappers of seven workers, including a New Zealander, in Nigeria are yet to make any ransom demands – but they are believed to be a criminal gang with financial motives rather than terrorists.

It is unclear why the men were kidnapped, but ABC said that a dollar figure would probably be put to the Australian mining company – or the government – in due course.

MFAT’s Safetravel website warns of the dangers of terrorism and kidnapping in parts of Nigeria, where attacks are carried out against foreign oil companies and expatriate workers.

The abductees were taken as they were approaching Idundu Bridge.

He didn’t foresee the New Zealand government paying a ransom, following worldwide norms. Macmahon has declined to comment.