Police free Lebanese kidnapped in southeast Nigeria
June 2, 2009 09:53AMT

  A Lebanese construction worker and his police escort were rescued hours after they were kidnapped for ransom in southeastern Nigeria, a spokesman said on Monday.


The two men were travelling along the Aba-Port Harcourt highway when they were seized by 18 gunmen in Abia State on Sunday, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said. They were freed hours after.

"During the rescue bid, the police escort was shot severely and the expatriate was shot in the leg by the kidnappers before escaping," said Soji Alabi, a spokesman for the Abia State command of the NSCDC.

The Lebanese man and his escort received treatment at a hospital in the state capital Umuahia before the construction worker was taken away by his employers who are based in the oil city of Port Harcourt, Alabi said.

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