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Canadian woman freed in Nigeria Canadian 'still held' in Nigeria
(about 2 hours later)
A Canadian woman kidnapped over a week ago in northern Nigeria has been released, police say. A Canadian woman kidnapped over a week ago in northern Nigeria is still being held, officials say, hours after police said she had been released.
Julie Mulligan, 45, was seized from a car by gunmen in the city of Kaduna on 16 April. Julie Mulligan, 45, was seized from a car by gunmen in Kaduna on 16 April.
"She is in good health and in the custody of the security services," a police spokesman told the BBC. A police spokesman earlier told the BBC she was in the custody of the security services, but the police later said Mrs Mulligan had not been freed.
A spokesman added that one of the gang who kidnapped Mrs Mulligan had been arrested and was in custody.
It is the first time a foreign woman has been kidnapped and held for ransom in Nigeria outside the restive oil-producing Niger Delta region.It is the first time a foreign woman has been kidnapped and held for ransom in Nigeria outside the restive oil-producing Niger Delta region.
Mrs Mulligan, a financial services consultant from Alberta, was travelling from a meeting with a friend when gunmen stopped their car and seized her.Mrs Mulligan, a financial services consultant from Alberta, was travelling from a meeting with a friend when gunmen stopped their car and seized her.
Health fearsHealth fears
The kidnappers had said Mrs Mulligan was sick.The kidnappers had said Mrs Mulligan was sick.
She had spoken to journalists on the phone since her kidnap and said she was afraid of getting malaria.She had spoken to journalists on the phone since her kidnap and said she was afraid of getting malaria.
Local media reported her kidnappers had demanded 20m naira ($135,823; £92,000) to release her.Local media reported her kidnappers had demanded 20m naira ($135,823; £92,000) to release her.
Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said he did not know if any ransom was paid.
"We will have more details tomorrow, all I know is that she is healthy and in Kaduna in the custody of the security services," he said.
Kidnappings for ransom are common in the southern Niger Delta region, where militants and street gangs target wealthy Nigerians and foreign oil workers.Kidnappings for ransom are common in the southern Niger Delta region, where militants and street gangs target wealthy Nigerians and foreign oil workers.
But this is the first time a foreigner has been kidnapped in the north of the country.But this is the first time a foreigner has been kidnapped in the north of the country.