NIGERIA: Chief security official of housing compound where the kidnapped foreigners lived says Islamist gunmen used explosives to blast their way into the compound

Record ID: 235970

  • Title: NIGERIA: Chief security official of housing compound where the kidnapped foreigners lived says Islamist gunmen used explosives to blast their way into the compound
  • Date: 18th February 2013
  • Summary: JAMA'ARE, NIGERIA (FEBRUARY 18, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF HOUSING COMPOUND WHERE KIDNAPPING TOOK PLACE VARIOUS OF BULLET HOLE IN GLASS PART OF DOOR BULLET CASING ON GROUND HOLE IN COMPOUND WALL DOG RUNNING OUT OF HOLE IN COMPOUND WALL HOLE IN COMPOUND WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER OF SETRACO, JOHN YAMA, SAYING: "On Saturday night at around nine thirty we heard gun shots, basically everyone was dispatched. Later on, we learned that it was our life camp that was invaded by unknown gunmen, and at the end of the day we discovered that seven expatriates were taken, then a security guard was shot dead, which we are even prepared to go and pick from the mortuary, to his town. This is exactly what happened." GATE WITH SETRACO SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Hausa) (Audio as incoming) CHIEF OF SECURITY AT THE HOUSING COMPOUND, MUSA ALHAMDU, SAYING: "I finished the afternoon shift and handed over to night shift. Later in the night around 10pm, we heard gun shots and I discovered it was my company that was attacked by unknown gunmen. They bombed the fence from the north side and the south side, and gained entrance to the compound, where they kidnapped seven white people including a husband and wife." SIGN READING (In English): "SETRACO NIG.LIMITED, LIFE CAMP"
  • Embargoed: 5th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NW8GU3GEDQF3N5TTH7W1JHJV
  • Story Text: An Islamist group linked to al Qaeda claimed responsibility on Monday (February 18) for kidnapping seven foreigners in an attack in a remote Nigerian town at the weekend.
    Gunmen killed a security guard and abducted a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers after storming the compound of Lebanese construction firm Setraco in Jama'are in Bauchi state late on Saturday (February 16).
    "On Saturday night at around nine thirty we heard gun shots, basically everyone was dispatched. Later on, we learned that it was our life camp that was invaded by unknown gunmen, and at the end of the day we discovered that seven expatriates were taken, then a security guard was shot dead, which we are even prepared to go and pick from the mortuary, to his town. This is exactly what happened," said John Yama, human resources manager of Setraco.
    Gunmen used explosives to blast their way in, according to the chief of security at the housing compound, Musa Alhamdu.
    "I finished the afternoon shift and handed over to night shift. Later in the night around 10pm, we heard gun shots and I discovered it was my company that was attacked by unknown gunmen. They bombed the fence from the north side and the south side, and gained entrance to the compound, where they kidnapped seven white people including a husband and wife," he said.
    It is the worst case of foreigners being kidnapped in the mostly Muslim north of Africa's most populous country since an insurgency by Islamist militants intensified two years ago.
    Attacks by Islamist groups in northern Nigeria have become the biggest threat to stability in Africa's top oil producer. Western governments are concerned the Islamists may link up with groups elsewhere in the region, including al Qaeda's North African wing AQIM, especially given the conflict in nearby Mali.
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