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Seized UK girl search stepped up Nigeria works to free seized girl
(about 1 hour later)
The search for a three-year-old British girl abducted in Nigeria has intensified, amid threats by her captors to kill her. Authorities in Nigeria have stepped up efforts to free a three-year-old British girl kidnapped by gunmen in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Margaret Hill's mother, Oluchi, says the kidnappers first asked for her husband to replace the daughter, then asked for a ransom. State government spokesman Emmanuel Okah said officials were working to secure Margaret Hill's release as soon as possible.
The child was grabbed from a car on her way to school in Port Harcourt. Margaret was grabbed from a car on her way to school in Port Harcourt.
The main separatist group in the Niger Delta has offered to hunt the abductors and free the girl. Her mother, Oluchi, says the kidnappers have threatened to kill Margaret unless her husband takes the girl's place.
CryingCrying
Margaret was snatched by gunmen at 0730 (0630 GMT) on Thursday after they smashed a window of her car as it stood in traffic. Margaret was snatched by gunmen at 0730 (0630 GMT) on Thursday after they smashed a window of the car as it stood in traffic.
They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby Oluchi Hill Oil rich city's woes Oil worker recalls kidnap They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby Oluchi HillMargaret's mother Oil rich city's woes Oil worker recalls kidnap
The kidnappers said they would free the child but only in return for her father and they threatened to kill her if there was no deal. But since then there has been no contact. The kidnappers telephoned Mrs Hill and said they would free the child but only if her father, Mike, took her place.
The family says the kidnappers are now asking for money.
Mrs Hill, a Nigerian national, told the BBC that the kidnappers told her to meet them in a town in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region, but that neither she nor the police had been able to locate it.Mrs Hill, a Nigerian national, told the BBC that the kidnappers told her to meet them in a town in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region, but that neither she nor the police had been able to locate it.
She said they then allowed her to speak to her daughter who was crying.She said they then allowed her to speak to her daughter who was crying.
"They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby," Mrs Hill said."They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby," Mrs Hill said.
"He wanted to go down for his baby but the police commander told him not to.""He wanted to go down for his baby but the police commander told him not to."
The kidnappers then threatened to kill Margaret if Mr Hill did not come within three hours, she said. Mrs Hill said the kidnappers threatened to kill Margaret if Mr Hill did not come within three hours.
After the deadline had expired, Mrs Hill said Margaret was being fed just "bread and water".After the deadline had expired, Mrs Hill said Margaret was being fed just "bread and water".
Mrs Hill's husband, Mike, has lived in the country for 10 years and runs a bar in Port Harcourt. The family says the kidnappers have also asked for money.
The region's main militant group - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - has offered to help find Margaret. Force 'ruled out'
Mr Okah said the state government was "working with the relevant security agents to ensure the safety of the girl and secure her release as soon as possible", AFP news agency reported.
MEND Formed early 2006Close links to militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta Volunteer ForceSplit into two rival groups late 2006Demand 100% control of Nigeria's oil wealthDemand release of impeached Bayelsa governor on trial for money launderingOperate from creeks of Niger DeltaCommunicate with media by e-mail Nigeria's shadowy militants Nigerian national police chief Mike Okiro has gone to Port Harcourt, where he held meetings with security officials.
"We are working hard to free the girl unharmed," he was quoted by AFP as saying.
State police commissioner Felix Ogbaudu said force would not be used to free Margaret, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The region's main militant group - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - has offered to help find the child.
"We will join in the hunt for the monsters who carried out this abduction and mete out adequate punishment for this crime. We abhor all forms of violence against women and children," the group said in a statement."We will join in the hunt for the monsters who carried out this abduction and mete out adequate punishment for this crime. We abhor all forms of violence against women and children," the group said in a statement.
Hostage-taking The UK's Foreign Office has called for Margaret's "immediate safe release".
The UK's Foreign Office has called for the "immediate safe release" of the girl. The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Mr Hill is ill and had been due to fly to the UK for medical treatment.
MEND Formed early 2006Close links to militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta Volunteer ForceSplit into two rival groups late 2006Demand 100% control of Nigeria's oil wealthDemand release of impeached Bayelsa governor on trial for money launderingOperate from creeks of Niger DeltaCommunicate with media by e-mail Nigeria's shadowy militants The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Mr Hill is ill and had been due to fly to the UK for medical treatment.
He says that no hostage has ever been killed by kidnappers in Nigeria and more than 200 have been taken by armed groups in the last 18 months.He says that no hostage has ever been killed by kidnappers in Nigeria and more than 200 have been taken by armed groups in the last 18 months.
Almost all were freed after a ransom was paid.Almost all were freed after a ransom was paid.
Mend called off its ceasefire on Tuesday, saying it has been kept on the sidelines of government-led talks about the future of the Niger Delta.
Although the Delta accounts for more than 90% of Nigeria's income, the region remains highly impoverished, a situation the militants say they want to change with their campaign.
Do you live in Nigeria? Are you concerned for your safety and that of your family? Is it just Nigeria, or do you have concerns about kidnapping where you live?Do you live in Nigeria? Are you concerned for your safety and that of your family? Is it just Nigeria, or do you have concerns about kidnapping where you live?
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