British hostage killed and three more are freed in Nigeria

A British hostage has been killed and three others freed after being kidnapped in Nigeria, it has emerged.

Ian Squire was among four Britons seized in the early hours of October 13 in the country’s southern Delta state.

The British High Commission and Nigerian authorities negotiated the release of three others – Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan. 

The circumstances surrounding Mr Squire’s death, three weeks after his kidnap, were not immediately clear. 

Shirley Donovan

The British High Commission and Nigerian authorities negotiated the release David Donovan  (left) and Shirley Donovan (right) as well as Alanna Carson. A fourth Briton, Ian Squire, has been killed

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are supporting the families of four British people who were abducted on October 13 in Nigeria, one of whom was tragically killed.

‘This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families.

‘We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations.’

In a statement, the families of the four hostages said: ‘Alanna, Ian, David and Shirley were kidnapped in Nigeria some three weeks ago.

‘We are grateful for the support received by the British High Commission and help from the Nigerian authorities in negotiating their release.

‘We are delighted and relieved that Alanna, David and Shirley have returned home safely. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of Ian as we come to terms with his sad death.

‘This has been a traumatic time for our loved ones who were kidnapped and for their families and friends here in the UK.’

In October, it was reported that the group had been taken on October 13 by a militant group renowned for demanding ransoms.

The four had been providing ‘free medical care and religious activities’ in the Burutu area of Delta state, said Chief Theo Fakama, from the local Enukorowa community.

David Donovan, a former GP from Cambridge, and his wife Shirley, both 57, were identified by The Times as two of the four people taken from their accommodation.

Together they ran a charity called New Foundations, providing medical care to remote villages.

Ian Squire was among four Britons seized in the early hours of October 13 in the country's southern Delta state

Ian Squire was among four Britons seized in the early hours of October 13 in the country’s southern Delta state

A British hostage has been killed and three others freed after being kidnapped in Nigeria, it has emerged (file picture)

A British hostage has been killed and three others freed after being kidnapped in Nigeria, it has emerged (file picture)

Their two sons Julian and Aiden were understood to also work for the charity, though it is not believed they got caught up in the kidnap.

Police chief Fakama said locals were ‘saddened’ by the kidnapping as the victims had ‘brought succour to residents of the community for the past three years’.

Kidnapping for ransom is a common problem in parts of Nigeria.

A number of foreigners have, in the last few years, been kidnapped in the Niger Delta region, which holds most of the country’s crude oil – the country’s economic mainstay.

‘The abductors have not made any contact but we are doing our investigations to know the motive and have them rescued without jeopardising their lives,’ said Aniamaka.

‘Information available to us shows they are missionaries giving free medical services.

‘The victims are of British nationality, two of whom are a couple, and have been rendering humanitarian services in the area for a while.

‘But unfortunately, they didn’t let the authorities know of their presence in the area all this while.

‘There is a militant group that has been operating in the area and we believe they are the ones behind the abduction.

‘Immediately the militants struck, they whisked the victims to the interior regions of the creek where we believe they are being held for the past five days.’

There was an increase in crime in the southern region last year that coincided with a series of attacks on energy facilities. However, there have been no militant attacks on energy installations so far this year.

On October 14, the Vatican said an Italian priest was kidnapped by gunman just outside Benin City, which is the capital of Edo state and neighbours Delta state to the north.

Delta state commissioner of police Zanna Ibrahim told reporters in the state capital, Asaba, at the time: ‘An anti-kidnapping team is already on the trail of the suspects.’

He suggested the abduction could be linked to a recent military operation against violent crime, which has seen an increase in troops in southern Nigeria.

Nigeria also saw the infamous kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in 2014. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk