Police confirm abduction of Briton in Lagos

THE Police in Lagos yesterday confirmed the abduction of a Briton on highbrow Victoria Island on Saturday by suspected gunmen.

Yesterday, a statement credited to the spokeswoman of the United States (US) Consulate in Lagos claimed that a foreigner was kidnapped at about 11pm on Saturday.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, who confirmed the incident, identified the victim as a Briton.He said the man was abducted in front of his home by unknown gunmen as he was returning from a late night function.

Detectives from the Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the command have been deployed in all the nooks and crannies of the city and its environs in search of the abductors and the victim.

The police commissioner said: “We have set our dragnet and we will get the kidnappers and rescue the victim. The victim is not an American; he is a Briton and we are trying all efforts to ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book.”

Command spokesman Ngozi Braide described the victim as a businessman and a resident of Victoria Island.

“We have started investigation of the matter and we will get the abductors soon,” she said.

The US Consulate said on Sunday that an expatriate was kidnapped but gave no further details.

Its (US Consulate) spokeswoman had said in a message to US nationals: “The US Consulate General in Lagos received a report that an expatriate was kidnapped on Victoria Island on Saturday, March 23 at approximately 11 pm.”



-- The Nation

Police say the Briton kidnapped last week in Victoria Island, Lagos, has been released.