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5 expatriates, Nigerians kidnapped in Calabar released

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5 expatriates, Nigerians kidnapped in Calabar released

Freedom came the way of kidnapped workers of MacMahon Construction Company, a contracting firm working at the Mfamosing plant of the United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited, on Sunday, as they were released by their abductors with various degrees of injuries.

According to reports, an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom by the company to secure their release.

It would be recalled that five foreign nationals and two Nigerian staff of the compny were abducted on Wednesday in Calabar on their way to work. A Nigerian, said to be a driver, was killed in the process while an Australian national escped with another Nigerian.

According to a source, all the kidnapped victims were released with injuries, adding that they have been taken to a hospital for medical attention.

“All the seven of them were released in the early hours of today with injuries. Nobody knows why they were injured but they are receiving medical attention,” the source said

Read also: Striking doctors resume work Monday

Meanwhile, foreign workers had deserted the Mfamosing plant of UniCem as a result of the development.

Another source, who is a Nigerian worker in the company, said the company has become a ghost community as even top management workers from the country have become scared of going work.

He said: “Since the kidnap, foreigners have stopped coming to work. Only the Nigerian workers have been consistent. Even as at Friday, some top management Nigerian workers did not come.

“I understand that the foreigners have all left Calabar for Lagos pending when the security situation will improve. You cannot imagine that those that were kidnapped had armed police escort. The armed men ran to safety first and they left the workers to their fate.”

However, the Cross River State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, confirming the release of the abducted workers, said it was not true that they all sustained injuries.

“I can confirm that they have been released. I was with them a short while ago. It is only the two Nigerians that had injuries while one or two others have scars. They have all been treated and they have also had contacts with their families. Their spirits were high,” he said.

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