Britain
yesterday vowed to work with Nigeria to bring the killers of seven foreign
hostages to justice as the death of the construction workers were confirmed.
yesterday vowed to work with Nigeria to bring the killers of seven foreign
hostages to justice as the death of the construction workers were confirmed.
Islamist
fundamentalist group Ansaru on Saturday said it had killed the abducted workers
of Lebanese construction firm Setraco.
fundamentalist group Ansaru on Saturday said it had killed the abducted workers
of Lebanese construction firm Setraco.
The
British, Italian, Greek and Lebanese nationals were abducted at a construction
site in Jama’are, Bauchi State on February 6.
British, Italian, Greek and Lebanese nationals were abducted at a construction
site in Jama’are, Bauchi State on February 6.
Ansaru
posted a video of the bodies of the slain workers, which the British, the
Italian and the Greek have confirmed to be real. The group said it killed the
hostages to prevent an operation to rescue them, apparently referring to
reports that British aircraft were seen in Nigeria.
posted a video of the bodies of the slain workers, which the British, the
Italian and the Greek have confirmed to be real. The group said it killed the
hostages to prevent an operation to rescue them, apparently referring to
reports that British aircraft were seen in Nigeria.
British
Foreign Secretary William Hague identified the Briton among them as Brendan
Vaughen. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti gave the name of the Italian victim
as Silvano Trevisan.
Foreign Secretary William Hague identified the Briton among them as Brendan
Vaughen. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti gave the name of the Italian victim
as Silvano Trevisan.
“We
will work with Nigeria and other affected countries to bring the killers to
justice and tackle terrorism in the region,” Hague said.
will work with Nigeria and other affected countries to bring the killers to
justice and tackle terrorism in the region,” Hague said.
Monti
promised Rome would use “every effort” to stop the killers.
promised Rome would use “every effort” to stop the killers.
A
statement from Greece’s foreign ministry said authorities had already informed
the hostage’s family.
statement from Greece’s foreign ministry said authorities had already informed
the hostage’s family.
“We
note that the terrorists never communicated or formulated demands to release
the hostages,” the statement said, but did not give the victims’d name.
note that the terrorists never communicated or formulated demands to release
the hostages,” the statement said, but did not give the victims’d name.
The
Lebanese also have not named the victims from their country.
Lebanese also have not named the victims from their country.
The
British Defence Ministry said yesterday that the aircraft were in Nigeria to
collect Nigerian troops who were being deployed to bolster the international
offensive against Islamists in Mali.
British Defence Ministry said yesterday that the aircraft were in Nigeria to
collect Nigerian troops who were being deployed to bolster the international
offensive against Islamists in Mali.
Britain
is providing airlift capacity to help the French-led mission there.
is providing airlift capacity to help the French-led mission there.
Ansaru,
the fundamentalist group that kidnapped the seven construction workers, said in
a statement, “the Nigerian and British government operation” prompted the
executions. Both Britain and Nigeria denied that they had launched any such
mission.
the fundamentalist group that kidnapped the seven construction workers, said in
a statement, “the Nigerian and British government operation” prompted the
executions. Both Britain and Nigeria denied that they had launched any such
mission.
In a
statement, Hague described the killing as an “act of cold-blooded murder”.
statement, Hague described the killing as an “act of cold-blooded murder”.
“It is
with deep sadness that I must confirm that a British construction worker, held
hostage in Nigeria since 16 February, is likely to have been killed at the
hands of his captors, along with six other foreign nationals who we believe
were also tragically murdered.
with deep sadness that I must confirm that a British construction worker, held
hostage in Nigeria since 16 February, is likely to have been killed at the
hands of his captors, along with six other foreign nationals who we believe
were also tragically murdered.
“This
was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms. My
thoughts are with his family, and the families of the other hostages, who will
be devastated by this tragic loss.
was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms. My
thoughts are with his family, and the families of the other hostages, who will
be devastated by this tragic loss.
“I
offer them our deep condolences at this terrible time, and know that the
thoughts of people up and down our country will be with them.
offer them our deep condolences at this terrible time, and know that the
thoughts of people up and down our country will be with them.
“Responsibility
for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the terrorists. I am grateful to
the Nigerian Government for their unstinting help and co-operation.
for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the terrorists. I am grateful to
the Nigerian Government for their unstinting help and co-operation.
“We are
utterly determined to work with them to hold the perpetrators of this heinous
act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of
people in Northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”
utterly determined to work with them to hold the perpetrators of this heinous
act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of
people in Northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”
The
Greek and Italian governments separately said yesterday that their intelligence
services had new information that suggested the allegation was correct.
Greek and Italian governments separately said yesterday that their intelligence
services had new information that suggested the allegation was correct.
“Our
checks conducted in co-ordination with the other countries concerned lead us to
believe that the news of the killing of the hostages seized last month is
true,” the foreign ministry in Rome said in a statement.
checks conducted in co-ordination with the other countries concerned lead us to
believe that the news of the killing of the hostages seized last month is
true,” the foreign ministry in Rome said in a statement.
“This
is a horrific act of terrorism for which there is no explanation except
barbaric and blind violence.” Several Nigerian news websites carried versions
of a story that first appeared on February 23 claiming that the British
aircraft seen at Abuja were on their way to Bauchi State, where the kidnapping
took place.
is a horrific act of terrorism for which there is no explanation except
barbaric and blind violence.” Several Nigerian news websites carried versions
of a story that first appeared on February 23 claiming that the British
aircraft seen at Abuja were on their way to Bauchi State, where the kidnapping
took place.
They
were there, one report stated, “to prepare the ground for the eventual release
of the foreigners”.
were there, one report stated, “to prepare the ground for the eventual release
of the foreigners”.
Britain’s
High Commissioner to Nigeria was quoted in the article denying this, saying the
aircraft were part of “routine military-to-military engagement”.
High Commissioner to Nigeria was quoted in the article denying this, saying the
aircraft were part of “routine military-to-military engagement”.
But in
its statement saying it had executed the hostages, Ansaru included links to
some of the stories online, as part of its justification for the executions.
its statement saying it had executed the hostages, Ansaru included links to
some of the stories online, as part of its justification for the executions.
