An Islamist group linked to al Qaeda claimed responsibility on Monday for kidnapping seven foreigners during a night time raid in a remote northern 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 housing compound of Lebanese construction firm Setraco in Jama'are in Bauchi state late on Saturday.
It was 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.
"By Allah's grace (we) have the custody of seven persons, which include Lebanese and their European counterparts working with Setraco," read a statement from Ansaru, a group that has kidnapped other foreigners in Nigeria in the past.
The kidnapping was "based on the transgression and atrocities done to the religion of Allah by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali," the statement said.
Attacks by fractured Islamist groups in northern Nigeria have become the biggest threat to stability in Africa's top oil producer.
Ansaru's full name is Jama'atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan, which roughly translates as "Vanguards for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa".
The group has risen to prominence only in recent months.
It has claimed responsibility for kidnapping a Frenchman last year and a raid on a major police station, where it said hundreds of prisoners were released. Britain said the group was behind the kidnap of a British and a Italian killed last year during a failed rescue attempt. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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AND YET RASCALS FROM THAT AXIS WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? I ONLY HOPE OUR SLEEPING SECURITY PERSONNEL WILL WAKE UP AND BE ALIVE TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THAT IS IF THEY HAVE LEARNT ANYTHING FROM THE FAILED ATTEMPT AT A MILITARY RESCUE LAST TIME! MAY GOD HELP THESE INNOCENT VICTIMS.
ReplyDeleteAnd they will. They have the fake numbers and are united in their backwardness, bigotry and paranoia. In the north one mallam can decide the votes of millions just on his say-so. We are doomed
Deletewhat ar they doing in that part of the world???
ReplyDeleteWHEN THEY SAY ALLAH WHAT DO THEY MEAN? ARE THEY SAYING THAT ISLAM PREACH KIDNAPING? I DONT UNERSTAND LET GOD INTERVEN BECOS THINGS ARE VERY BAD
ReplyDeleteAm begining 2 dislike islamism with passion. The cause a lot of troubles here and there. Fex boko haram, now ansaru. And they even say is the grace
ReplyDeletePerhaps they only wanted a good portion of the 72 virgins promised them by their book. Killing as a gateway to unlimited sex as taught by some pissful religions!
ReplyDeleteCan we just have northern and southern nigerian republics? I feel like the north has been a burden too much on the rest of the country for so long that we have never been able to make any progress especially after many decades of that region ruling us. We are simply too different nations at least and we can make better progress as separate entities. Leave brainwashing out of this and give it a thought for the sake of generations to come and for peace and prosperity
ReplyDelete