Four Americans And Canadians Kidnapped Regains Freedom

Four Americans and Canadians kidnapped in Kaduna State on Tuesday have been rescued and two of their abductors arrested.

Police said the four are in fairly good health and have been handed over to American Embassy in Abuja for medical attention.

They were abducted in an ambush where two police officers were killed by gunmen.

The Police Commissioner for Kaduna Command who addressed a news conference, said the victims were rescued around 7.30am on Saturday, January 20, in fairly good conditions and had been handed over to American Embassy in Abuja for medical attention.

Two suspected kidnappers were also reportedly arrested by a combined team of Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Counter Terrorism Unit and Kaduna State Police Command.

The rescued expatriates were identified as Nate Vangeest, Canadian; John Kirlin, American; a woman, Rachael Kelley, Canadian and Dean Slocum, American.

“Two suspects have been arrested and efforts are being made to arrest other members of the gang,” he added.

The victims were said to have been kidnapped on Kwoi-Jere Road in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Tuesday.

They had visited Kafanchan, in the Jema’a LGA area of the state to inspect some projects, and were returning to their base in Abuja when they were ambushed by the assailants who opened fire on a police escort.

The gunmen killed two policemen and whisked away the expatriates.