SECURITY forces have rescued the five expatriates and two Nigerians kidnapped by armed hoodlums in Cross River State last week while on their way to work with a construction company in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
Last Wednesday, the expatriates and their two Nigerian colleagues were kidnapped in the Idundu area of the Calabar-Oban Road in Cross River State while on their way to work for the MacMahon Construction Company. Their construction firm is located at the Mfamosing Plant of the United Cement Company of Nigeria in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
One of the expatriates identified as Tim Croot, an Australian and the driver of one of the vehicles, identified as Henshaw, were said to have escaped, while another driver, Matthew, was killed in the process. Those kidnapped include Jack Countentz (Australia), Mark Gabberdy (Australia), Peter Zoutenbier (Australia), Wayne Smith (South Africa), Jamal Khan (New Zealand), Austin Enok (Nigeria) and a driver identified as Howel (Nigeria).
New Zealand's prime minister had already said that his country would not pay any ransom as this would make every one of their nationals a target for kidnappers. Australia and South Africa pledged to work with the Nigerian government to free their citizens and it appears that the security forces have lived up to expectations.
Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, the Cross River State police commissioner, said that the seven men were rescued by the police yesterday morning. He added that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers and the workers were rescued unhurt, and were in a very stable condition, although he declined to reveal any details on how and where the workers were rescued.
Mr Ozi-Obeh attributed the success in freeing the captives to combined efforts between the police and other security operatives with support from the state government. Jude Ngaji, the Cross River State security adviser, said the freed workers were released somewhere in Akpabuyo and immediately taken into protective custody in an undisclosed location by security agents.
Mr Ngaji added: “I can tell you that they have regained their freedom. They are happy, strong and in high spirit and the Australian ambassador is happy and commended the state for the manner it handled the matter.
“This development is totally strange to Cross Riverians and never will it happen again. Cross River still remains the safest state to live in."
During the encounter leading to the kidnapping of the workers last Wednesday, their assailants, about 30 gunmen suspected to be militants operating in the state, shot and killed a Nigerian who was driving the bus conveying the workers to the cement factory. It is not yet clear if any arrests were made when the captives were freed.
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