SA journalist kidnapped in Nigeria

2010-03-01 21:32

Johannesburg - A journalist working for M-Net SuperSport was kidnapped in Nigeria on Monday afternoon, SABC news reported.

A bus the SuperSport team was travelling on was attacked on its way to Lagos. The journalist, named as Nick Greyling, and two Nigerian nationals were apparently kidnapped.

A Nigerian cameraman was reportedly shot and wounded.

International relations department spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota said they had been made aware of the kidnapping of a South African in Nigeria, but she could not confirm if it was a journalist.

She said the high commissioner in Nigeria, Kingsley Mamabolo, was in contact with the west African country's authorities. The department would continue monitoring developments and offer support to the family.

SuperSport.com's editor-in-chief Garry Taman said: "We have no details and a senior staff member of SuperSport will leave for Lagos soonest to establish the facts.

"As soon as we know what exactly happened we will issue a statement, probably on Tuesday."

According to French news agency AFP, kidnappings are relatively common in Nigeria's oil-rich south, but have in recent months spread to the rest of the country.

Ransom demands vary between US$700 000 and US$3m, depending on the wealth and importance of the hostage, although kidnappers will often accept lower sums.

More than 500 people were kidnapped in the first six months of 2009, of whom 10 were killed, according to official Nigerian statistics.
 

- SAPA