Brendan Vaughan, a British construction worker is one of seven foreign nationals said ‘to have been killed’ by their captives, Ansaru, a terrorist organisation aligned with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
The Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers were captured in a raid on a construction site in the northern Nigeria state of Bauchi last month.
Following reports of the deaths of hostages in Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said:
“It is with deep sadness that I must confirm that a British construction worker, held hostage in Nigeria since 16 February, is likely to have been killed at the hands of his captors, along with six other foreign nationals who we believe were also tragically murdered. This was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms.
“My thoughts are with his family, and the families of the other hostages, who will be devastated by this tragic loss. I offer them our deep condolences at this terrible time, and know that the thoughts of people up and down our country will be with them. I ask the media to allow them time to come to terms with their loss in privacy.
“Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the terrorists. I am grateful to the Nigerian Government for their unstinting help and cooperation. We are utterly determined to work with them to hold the perpetrators of this heinous act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of people in Northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”
