JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The seven Macmahon Holdings workers kidnapped in Nigeria have been released, the Australian engineering and mining group reported on Monday, adding that arrangements had been made for the men’s safe return to their families.
The company said that five of the seven people who were abducted near its operations in Calabar last Wednesday had sustained injuries and that two of them were seriously injured. The workers were receiving medical attention.
“Our men have been through a traumatic experience, and we have mobilised medical and other support teams in Nigeria to provide immediate support,” commented Macmahon CEO Sy van Dyk.
“I also thank the men’s families for working so closely with the company during what has been an extremely difficult time for them as well. They too have endured an incredibly stressful experience,” he said.
The group, which included Australians, Nigerians, a New Zealander and a South African, was attacked on the outskirts of the city of Calabar, which is the capital of Cross River state in the Niger Delta region.
Van Dyk said that Macmahon was saddened by the loss of local driver Matthew Odok, who was fatally injured during the initial incident.