British aid worker Faye Mooney killed by kidnappers in Nigeria
The bandits that abducted three people on Friday during an attack on Kajuru castle, a holiday and resort centre in Kujuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state, have demanded for N60 million ransom for the release of their victims.
The bandits had killed two people, including a Briton, whose name was given as Miss Faye Mooney. The slain Briton was said to be a staff of Mercy Corps Nigeria.
Police sources in Kajuru said the bandits made the demand on Sunday through a telephone to one of the staff of the castle.
The source said Mooney and the other person killed, came to the castle together.
According to the source, the bandits did not come into the castle, but climbed a rock near the castle and started shooting.
He said the two mobile policemen on duty at the castle, fired back at the hoodlums who were shooting sporadically.
The source explained that Mooney and her colleague who were accommodated in rooms in one of the towers, got terrified and attempted to leave the rooms and in the process they were hit by bullets as they attempted to run down the staircase.
“The bandits climbed up the rock by the gate. When they started shooting, the two mobile police guarding the place responded, so they knew there were armed policemen inside and they couldn’t come in.
“The two people they killed were already tensed in their rooms in one of the towers. They were panicking and they rushed out of their rooms and started running down the stairs.
“So as they were running down the staircase, the bandits saw them and shot them. Their corpses were deposited at the St. Gerald Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Kaduna.
The source also said five people were initially abducted – four staff of the castle and a bus driver who brought some guests.
“These people were somewhere outside the gate taking shayi (tea).
“But two of the staff managed to escape from captivity and the bandits went with three people – two staff of the castle and the bus driver”, he said.
Yakubu Sabo, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, was yet to respond to a message sent to him on the Police/Media WhatsApp platform on the issue at the time of filing this report.
Kajuru holiday resort
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My view: It is so sad, no one should go to a remote place that is not safe, Kajuru castle itself is beautiful, is just too remote for anyone to stay. The resort only had two armed police guard on duty, I'll not stay there for free, it is 45 kilometres from Kaduna. There should be adequate armed security 24/7 in a remote resort like that. Also police should interview the hotel staff, maybe someone allegedly gave information about the resort guests. Kidnapping for ransom is common in Nigeria, with foreigners and high-profile Nigerians frequently targeted.
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