05/07/2007

Three-year-old kidnapped in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnapped a three-year-old daughter of an expatriate worker said to be British in the Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt, according to a police spokesperson.

The girl was snatched from the car in which she was being driven to school as it was caught in traffic.

Initial reports have suggested the child has a British father and Nigerian mother, although this has not been confirmed.

The UK's Foreign Office has not confirmed the nationality of the girl.

It said it was aware of the reports and was urgently checking them.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in the area, although abductions of children are very rare.

This latest incident is believed to be the third child abduction this year.

(CD/JM)

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