Seven men kidnapped in a deadly attack in Nigeria have been released.
The men, who work for Perth-based mining company Macmahon Holdings, were in a group driving on the outskirts of the city of Calabar when they were attacked by gunmen on Wednesday. Their driver, a Nigerian man, was killed.
The company said in a statement late on Sunday night the men – three Australians, two Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African – had been released.
“The families have all been informed of the successful release of the men and have had the opportunity to speak to their loved ones,” Macmahon chief executive Sy van Dyk said.
“Our team has worked around the clock in locations around the world to bring them home and I am so proud of the dedicated and professional work they have done.
“While we are relieved to be able to reunite the seven men with their loved ones, we are deeply saddened by the loss of the local driver Matthew Odok, who was fatally injured during the initial incident.”
Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, confirmed the news.
“I believe they are all well, undergoing health checks and it’s obviously been a very traumatic time for them and they are all returning home to their families,” Bishop told 2GB radio on Monday.
She said the Australian government did not pay ransoms and would not say if the company the men work for did so.
No ransom was paid, according to assistant superintendent Irene Ugho, spokeswoman for the Cross River state police. Ugho did not offer details about how the men were freed.
She said: “The success of the rescue exercise was due to the combined efforts of the security agencies and the support of the state government.”
Five of the seven men were named as Australians Jack Countentz, Mark Gabberdy and Peter Zoutenbier; New Zealander Jamal Khan; and South African Wayne Smith.
