Australian used 'army training' to escape Nigerian kidnappers, as Kiwi colleague taken
John Key says paying a ransom could put a bounty on the head of any Kiwi who travels to a dangerous part of the world.
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Australian men Jack Couranz and Mark Gabbedy were in the group kidnapped in Nigeria.
The mother of an Australian man who escaped an armed kidnapping in Nigeria believes her son's Army Reserve training may have helped him survive.
Tim Croot managed to escape the Nigerian ambush and call home.
Tim Croot was part of a convoy of Macmahon Holdings employees, including New Zealander Jamal Khan, travelling to work at 5.30am local time in Calabar, in the south-east of Nigeria, when the group came under gun fire.
His mother Leanne told The Australian the 24-year-old had called her on Thursday to reassure her he was safe.
"Timmy was worried about us being worried," she said.
"He told me 'don't stress, mum'. That's Timmy, he's a very caring person."
Witnesses claimed Croot, who on Thursday night was under consular guard in Africa, hid under a vehicle during the ambush, which occurred in early morning half-light.
The Army Reservist was reportedly very fit, had been taught situational awareness and had recently begun learning martial arts.
Australian mining and engineering giant Macmahon Holdings has confirmed the seven men abducted were its employees and it was working to assist in their safe return.
Jamal Khan, from New Zealand, was part of the group alongside Australians Peter Zoutenbier, Jack Couranz, and Mark Gabbedy, and Nigerian Austin Adise.
Any demands for a ransom wouldn't be met by the New Zealand Government, Prime Minister John Key said.
Key said on Thursday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) had advised him of the kidnapping overnight and had also contacted the family of the kidnapped Kiwi, who live in New Zealand.
A witness told local media organisation Vanguard that those kidnapped were travelling in a convoy of four vehicles when the militants opened fire on them.
"They ambushed them and killed [the driver] on the spot. One of the expatriates hid under the vehicle and they didn't see him because it was still a bit dark," the unnamed witness said.
"They also took one of the drivers ... then one supervisor and three white guys and it was like they had a boat by the beach already waiting for them."
Counselling has been made available for all Macmahon employees and their families.
According to its website, Macmahon has a seven-year contract for quarrying operations at United Cement Company of Nigeria Ltd's cement manufacturing plant in Mfamosing, near Calabar.
- WA Today
FACEBOOK/LINKEDIN
Australian men Jack Couranz and Mark Gabbedy were in the group kidnapped in Nigeria.
The mother of an Australian man who escaped an armed kidnapping in Nigeria believes her son's Army Reserve training may have helped him survive.
Tim Croot managed to escape the Nigerian ambush and call home.
Tim Croot was part of a convoy of Macmahon Holdings employees, including New Zealander Jamal Khan, travelling to work at 5.30am local time in Calabar, in the south-east of Nigeria, when the group came under gun fire.
His mother Leanne told The Australian the 24-year-old had called her on Thursday to reassure her he was safe.
"Timmy was worried about us being worried," she said.
"He told me 'don't stress, mum'. That's Timmy, he's a very caring person."
Witnesses claimed Croot, who on Thursday night was under consular guard in Africa, hid under a vehicle during the ambush, which occurred in early morning half-light.
The Army Reservist was reportedly very fit, had been taught situational awareness and had recently begun learning martial arts.
Australian mining and engineering giant Macmahon Holdings has confirmed the seven men abducted were its employees and it was working to assist in their safe return.
Jamal Khan, from New Zealand, was part of the group alongside Australians Peter Zoutenbier, Jack Couranz, and Mark Gabbedy, and Nigerian Austin Adise.
Any demands for a ransom wouldn't be met by the New Zealand Government, Prime Minister John Key said.
Key said on Thursday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) had advised him of the kidnapping overnight and had also contacted the family of the kidnapped Kiwi, who live in New Zealand.
A witness told local media organisation Vanguard that those kidnapped were travelling in a convoy of four vehicles when the militants opened fire on them.
"They ambushed them and killed [the driver] on the spot. One of the expatriates hid under the vehicle and they didn't see him because it was still a bit dark," the unnamed witness said.
"They also took one of the drivers ... then one supervisor and three white guys and it was like they had a boat by the beach already waiting for them."
Counselling has been made available for all Macmahon employees and their families.
According to its website, Macmahon has a seven-year contract for quarrying operations at United Cement Company of Nigeria Ltd's cement manufacturing plant in Mfamosing, near Calabar.
- WA Today
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