KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Kidnappers have abducted two Americans and two Canadians in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna, killing two police officers, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

Kidnappings are rife in Nigeria, where domestic security is weak, though they overwhelmingly target other Nigerians. However, abductions of foreigners are not uncommon.

The foreigners were ambushed by unknown gunmen on their way from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital Abuja, Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, said by telephone.

Kafanchan is about 3-1/2 hours’ drive northeast of Abuja.

“The two police escorts attached to them engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the unfortunate death of the two police officers,” Aliyu said.

The United States embassy in Nigeria declined to comment.

Global Affairs Canada is aware of the reports of the kidnapping of two Canadian citizens and consular officials in Nigeria are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information, spokesman John Babcock said.

Canada cannot release further details on the case due to privacy concerns, Babcock said.

In October, kidnappers took four Britons in Delta state in the south. Three were released after negotiations, but the other, Ian Squire, was killed.

The Abuja-Kaduna road has long been a haunt for kidnappers. Last February, two German archaeologists were abducted in the region, though were later freed.</s>The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four foreign nationals along Kwoi-Jere road in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State. Two escorts with the Nigeria Police Force were reportedly killed by the armed kidnappers, before the foreigners were abducted. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mukhtar Aliyu confirmed that the […]

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This post was syndicated from BellaNaija. Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Kidnappers have abducted two Americans and two Canadians in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna, killing two police officers, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

The American and Canadian were ambushed by unknown gunmen on their way from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital Abuja, Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, said by phone.

“The two police escorts attached to them engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the unfortunate death of the two police officers,” he said.</s>LAGOS, Nigeria — Gunmen ambushed two Americans and two Canadians traveling through the Nigerian state of Kaduna, kidnapping them and killing two police officers, a state police spokesman said Wednesday.

The visitors were heading south from Kafanchan in Kaduna to the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday night when they were ambushed around Kagarko, the Kaduna state police spokesman, Mukhtar Aliyu, said.

“The two police escorts attached to them engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the unfortunate death of the two police officers,” Mr. Aliyu said.

The Americans and Canadians are investors setting up solar stations in villages around Kafanchan, Mr. Aliyu said.

Security officers, including an anti-kidnapping unit, have been sent to the area to try to rescue the abductees, he said.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, especially on the Kaduna-to-Abuja highway. Last year, two German archaeologists were seized at gunpoint less than 60 miles northeast of Abuja and later freed unharmed by their kidnappers. In 2016, Sierra Leone’s deputy high commissioner was kidnapped at gunpoint on the highway and held for five days.</s>Kidnappers abduct two Americans, two Canadians in Nigeria, two police killed

A police officer stands guard at a prayer ground in Abuja October 15, 2013. Security has always been a problem in the country with two Americans and two Canadians kidnapped January 17, 2018. — Reuters picKADUNA, Jan 18 — Kidnappers have abducted two Americans and two Canadians in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna, killing two police officers, a police spokesman said yesterday.

Kidnappings are rife in Nigeria, where domestic security is weak, though they overwhelmingly target other Nigerians. However, abductions of foreigners are not uncommon.

The foreigners were ambushed by unknown gunmen on their way from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital Abuja, Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, said by telephone.

Kafanchan is about 3.5 hours' drive northeast of Abuja.

“The two police escorts attached to them engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the unfortunate death of the two police officers,” Aliyu said.

The United States embassy in Nigeria declined to comment.

Global Affairs Canada is aware of the reports of the kidnapping of two Canadian citizens and consular officials in Nigeria are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information, spokesman John Babcock said.

Canada cannot release further details on the case due to privacy concerns, Babcock said.

In October, kidnappers took four Britons in Delta state in the south. Three were released after negotiations, but the other, Ian Squire, was killed.

The Abuja-Kaduna road has long been a haunt for kidnappers. Last February, two German archaeologists were abducted in the region, though were later freed. — Reuters</s>Two Americans and two Canadians have been kidnapped in Kaduna State, North-west Nigeria. The spokesperson of the Kaduna Police Command, Mukhtar Aliyu, provided details of the kidnap on Wednesday. He said two policemen attached to the expatriates were also killed in a gun duel as they tried to rescue the foreigners. Mr. Aliyu earlier said […]

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This post was syndicated from Ngyab . Click here to read the full text on the original website.</s>Kidnappers have abducted two Americans and two Canadians in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna, killing two police officers, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

Kidnappings are rife in Nigeria, where domestic security is weak, though they overwhelmingly target other Nigerians. However, abductions of foreigners are not uncommon.

The foreigners were ambushed by unknown gunmen on their way from the town of Kafanchan in Kaduna state to the capital Abuja, Mukhtar Aliyu, a spokesman for the Kaduna state police, said by telephone.

Kafanchan is about 3-1/2 hours' drive northeast of Abuja.

“The two police escorts attached to them engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the unfortunate death of the two police officers,” Aliyu said.

A spokesman for the United States embassy in Nigeria declined to comment. The Canadian foreign service did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

In October, kidnappers took four Britons in Delta state in the south. Three were released after negotiations, but the other, Ian Squire, was killed.

The Abuja-Kaduna road has long been a haunt for kidnappers. Last February, two German archaeologists were abducted in the region, though were later freed.</s>Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Armed gunmen ambushed a vehicle in northern Nigeria and kidnapped two Americans and two Canadians, local police said Wednesday.

The gunmen also killed two Nigerian police officers who were escorting the North Americans, The Punch reported.

Names of the victims have not been released.

According to The Nation, a Nigerian news outlet, authorities there have sent an anti-kidnapping unit to search for the gunmen and the victims. The unit was created as a result of increased kidnappings in the country.

Nigerian Sen. Shehi Sani acknowledged the kidnapping in a tweet on Wednesday.

"I received new report of the kidnapping of an American and a Canadian in Kagarko area of Kaduna state and the killing of two policemen," Sani wrote. "It's condemnable. I call on all security agents to intensify the search for these men. My condolences to the families of the deceased."

The U.S. State Department said it was "aware of reports of a U.S. citizen kidnapped in Nigeria" but did not comment further, the BBC reported.</s>File photo: Two Americans and two Canadians have been kidnapped and two Nigerian police escorts killed in an ambush in northern Kaduna state. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

LAGOS – Two Americans and two Canadians have been kidnapped and two Nigerian police escorts killed in an ambush in northern Kaduna state, police said Wednesday, in the latest abduction targeting foreigners.

State police spokesman Mukhtar Aliyu said "unknown armed men" seized the four North Americans on the road to Abuja at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Tuesday.

"They engaged in a fierce gun battle with the two police escorts attached to the expatriates, who unfortunately lost their lives," he added.

No further details were given and Aliyu said "every possible means" were being used to rescue the four abductees and arrest the kidnappers.

In Washington, a State Department official referred to the abduction of only one US citizen.

"We are aware of reports of a US citizen kidnapped in Nigeria," he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The safety and protection of US citizens overseas are among our top priorities," he added.

A State Department travel advisory for urges US citizens to "reconsider" travelling to Nigeria, warning that "violent crime such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping and rape is common throughout the country."

Global Affairs Canada. which manages Canada's diplomatic and consular relations, is "aware of reports of the kidnapping of two Canadian citizens in Nigeria," spokesman John Babcock said, "Consular officials in Nigeria are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information," he added.

Kidnapping has long been a problem in Nigeria's southern states, where high-profile individuals, including the families of prominent politicians, are regularly seized.

Victims are usually released after several days once a ransom is paid.

In recent years the crime has spread across the country as the economy has stalled. A crackdown on cattle rustling has been blamed for rising numbers of abductions in the north.

In October last year, an armed gang seized four British missionaries working for a medical charity in the oil-rich but impoverished state of Delta in the south.

One of the hostages was killed while the three other hostages were later released.

Also in October, the Vatican said an Italian priest was kidnapped near Benin City, the capital of Edo state, which borders Delta state to the north. He was also later released.

Safety on the Kaduna-Abuja road came under intense scrutiny last year when the federal government announced the closure of the capital's only airport for essential runway repairs.

Many foreign missions and companies advised staff to limit their travel during the closure period, as all domestic and some international flights were switched to Abuja.

In July 2016, Sierra Leone's defence attache to Nigeria was kidnapped by men in military fatigues armed with AK-47 rifles at a fake checkpoint on the Abuja-Kaduna road.</s>Two Americans, two Canadians kidnapped in Nigeria



 Two Americans and two Canadians have been kidnapped in an ambush in Kaduna state, northern Nigeria, police said on Wednesday, in the latest abduction targeting foreigners.

State police spokesman Mukhtar Aliyu said “unknown armed men” seized the four on the road to Abuja at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Tuesday.

“They engaged in a fierce gun battle with the two police escorts attached to the expatriates, who unfortunately lost their lives,” he added.

No further details were given and Aliyu said “every possible means” were being employed to rescue the four abductees and arrest the kidnappers.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in Abuja said he had no comment to make when contacted by AFP while there was no immediate response from the Canadian High Commission.

Kidnapping has long been a problem in Nigeria’s southern states, where high-profile individuals, including the families of prominent politicians, are regularly seized.

Victims are usually released after several days once a ransom is paid.

In recent years the crime has spread across the country as the economy has stalled. A crackdown on cattle rustling has been blamed for rising numbers of abductions in the north.

In October last year, an armed gang seized four British missionaries working for a medical charity in the oil-rich but impoverished state of Delta in the south.

One of the hostages was killed while the three other hostages were later released.

Also in October, the Vatican said an Italian priest was kidnapped near Benin City, the capital of Edo state, which borders Delta state to the north. He was also later released.

Last February, two German archaeologists from the Goethe University in Frankfurt were kidnapped from an excavation site in Kaduna state.

The site was off the main road linking the airport north of the state capital Kaduna city with Abuja, some 220 kilometres (137 miles) away.

The pair were freed after several days.

Safety on the Kaduna-Abuja road came under intense scrutiny last year when the federal government announced the closure of the capital’s only airport for essential runway repairs.

Many foreign missions and companies advised staff to limit their travel during the closure period, as all domestic and some international flights were switched to Abuja.

In July 2016, Sierra Leone’s defence attaché to Nigeria was kidnapped by men in military fatigues armed with AK-47 rifles at a fake checkpoint on the Abuja-Kaduna road.

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Two Americans and two Canadians are abducted by unknown gunmen in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Two police officers are killed after engaging in a firefight with the abductors.