Four Thais held in an apparent ransom kidnapping in Nigeria have been freed unharmed, a spokesman for the kingdom's foreign ministry in Bangkok said Saturday.
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A gang of armed kidnappers seized the four Thais and two Nigerians on a waterway while they were on their way to work at a state-owned fish farm in the African nation's southern Rivers State, Nigerian officials said last week.
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"All of them are released," ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said of the Thai nationals.
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"The Thai Foreign Minister has talked with one of them. They are fine and will continue to work in Nigeria," he added, without confirming whether a ransom was paid or the exact time of their release.
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It was unclear what happened to the Nigerian hostages.
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Kidnaps for ransom are common in the remote and gang-ridden area.
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Most kidnap victims in southern Nigeria are released unharmed after the payment of a ransom, unlike in the country's north, where Islamist extremists have killed a number of their hostages.
Kidnapping in Nigeria is something that must stop as soon as possible because it is something no one is proud of @ all. It is disgraceful.....