Spanish doctor Missing in Nigeria, feared kidnapped

Spain said Wednesday that one of its nationals had gone missing in southern Nigeria and was feared kidnapped. The disappearance of the man “has all the characteristics of a kidnapping for economic reasons,” said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo.

Spanish media reported that the missing man is a 58-year-old doctor who works for a clinic belonging to a foundation financially supported by Catholic institution Opus Dei in south-eastern Nigeria, a predominantly Christian area.

“The organisation he works for has asked for total discretion,” the foreign minister added as he arrived in parliament.

“It is in the south of the country, not in the north, so there are no political implications of any type.”

Spain’s embassy in Nigeria was working with the local authorities to resolve the case and the foreign ministry was in “permanent contact” with the man’s family, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

Two weeks ago, the State Security Service, SSS paraded seven men accused of being part of the gang that mastermind the kidnap of Mohammed Khamis Majed Ishmael AI Ali, a national of United Arab Emirates early this year.

The suspects paraded by the security agency all aged between 22 and 33 years include Ojo Ibrahim Ajibade, Lamidi Akinkunmi, Olasunkanmi Temitope a.k.a. Rasky and Nuremi Lamidi. The others include Siyanbade Musibau Olalekan, Saka Kashim and Jelili Ajagungbade Adeleke a.k.a. Owuye.
Marilyn Ogar, Deputy Director, Public Relations, SSS, told journalists that all the suspects took part in the kidnap of the UAE citizen who spent 60 days in the custody of his abductors.

However, four other suspects who were part of the kidnapping, according to SSS, are still at large.
According to Ogar, Khamis was lured to visit Nigeria by the accused for a phantom business transaction with a non-existent Finuche Investments, but was abducted on his arrival in Nigeria and held hostage for 60 days at Aboriogun Village, Ikoyi town, Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
The UAE national was however released on 19 March and dropped off in Ibadan, just a day before they were arrested by the operatives of SSS.

In Northern Nigeria the kidnapping of a Briton and an Italian by a gang linked with Boko Haram insurgents and al-Qaeda in Sokoto state, led to the death of the duo, following a failed rescue bid by British and Nigerian forces.