New militant group Ansaru: we kidnapped 7 foreigners

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered security agents to rescue the seven foreigners abducted by gunmen in Bauchi State on Saturday.

Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for the abduction, saying it has custody of the Briton, the Italian, the Greek and four Lebanese kidnapped at gunpoint from their workplace in Jama’are, Bauchi State.

A Nigerian security guard – Mr. John Amalu – was killed by the gunmen.

All the victims are employees of construction firm SETRACO, working on the Bauchi State segment of the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway.

In a statement by his spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, the President commiserated with the family of the guard who was reportedly killed and assured “the kidnapped foreign workers as well as the governments of their countries that the Federal Government and its security agencies are doing everything possible to find their abductors and ensure the safe release of all those they abducted”.