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| 'Threat to kill' missing UK girl | 'Threat to kill' missing UK girl |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kidnappers who seized a three-year-old UK girl in Nigeria have threatened to kill her unless her father agrees to take her place, her mother says. | Kidnappers who seized a three-year-old UK girl in Nigeria have threatened to kill her unless her father agrees to take her place, her mother says. |
| Margaret Hill, the daughter of an expatriate worker, was grabbed from a car on her way to school in the oil city of Port Harcourt. | Margaret Hill, the daughter of an expatriate worker, was grabbed from a car on her way to school in the oil city of Port Harcourt. |
| Her mother, Oluchi, told the BBC that the kidnappers had called her demanding a meeting in a town in the Niger Delta. | Her mother, Oluchi, told the BBC that the kidnappers had called her demanding a meeting in a town in the Niger Delta. |
| She said they then allowed her to speak to her daughter who was crying. | She said they then allowed her to speak to her daughter who was crying. |
| Margaret was snatched by gunmen at 0730 (0630 GMT) on Thursday after they smashed a window of her car as it stood in traffic. | Margaret was snatched by gunmen at 0730 (0630 GMT) on Thursday after they smashed a window of her car as it stood in traffic. |
| They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby Oluchi Hill | They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby Oluchi Hill |
| Her father Mike Hill, who has lived in the country for 10 years, runs a bar in Port Harcourt. | Her father Mike Hill, who has lived in the country for 10 years, runs a bar in Port Harcourt. |
| Mrs Hill, a Nigerian national, said the kidnappers told her to meet them in a town in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region, but that neither she nor the police had been able to locate it. | Mrs Hill, a Nigerian national, said the kidnappers told her to meet them in a town in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region, but that neither she nor the police had been able to locate it. |
| "They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby," she said. "He wanted to go down for his baby but the police commander told him not to." | "They say I can bring my husband to swap with the baby," she said. "He wanted to go down for his baby but the police commander told him not to." |
| The kidnappers then threatened to kill Margaret if Mr Hill did not come within three hours, she said. | The kidnappers then threatened to kill Margaret if Mr Hill did not come within three hours, she said. |
| Mrs Hill said she had not been contacted by the kidnappers since then. | Mrs Hill said she had not been contacted by the kidnappers since then. |
| The UK's Foreign Office has called for the "immediate safe release" of the girl. | The UK's Foreign Office has called for the "immediate safe release" of the girl. |
| 'Big business' | 'Big business' |
| The kidnapping follows that of five oil workers on Wednesday, the first since the main militant group in that area - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - called off a month-long ceasefire. | The kidnapping follows that of five oil workers on Wednesday, the first since the main militant group in that area - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - called off a month-long ceasefire. |
| Mend has said it had nothing to do with that attack. | Mend has said it had nothing to do with that attack. |
| MEND Formed early 2006Close links to militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta Volunteer ForceSplit into two rival groups late 2006Demand 100% control of Nigeria's oil wealthDemand release of impeached Bayelsa governor on trial for money launderingOperate from creeks of Niger DeltaCommunicate with media by e-mail Nigeria's shadowy militants Oil rich city's woes | MEND Formed early 2006Close links to militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta Volunteer ForceSplit into two rival groups late 2006Demand 100% control of Nigeria's oil wealthDemand release of impeached Bayelsa governor on trial for money launderingOperate from creeks of Niger DeltaCommunicate with media by e-mail Nigeria's shadowy militants Oil rich city's woes |
| The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says there are a plethora of armed gangs operating in the Niger Delta and kidnapping for ransom has become big business. | The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says there are a plethora of armed gangs operating in the Niger Delta and kidnapping for ransom has become big business. |
| In almost all previous cases it was foreign oil workers who had been taken hostage but in recent months the children of wealthy Nigerians had also become targets, he added. | In almost all previous cases it was foreign oil workers who had been taken hostage but in recent months the children of wealthy Nigerians had also become targets, he added. |
| More than 100 foreigners have been taken hostage in the region this year. | More than 100 foreigners have been taken hostage in the region this year. |
| Correspondents say hostages are usually released after ransom payments that the Nigerian government and oil companies involved always deny. | Correspondents say hostages are usually released after ransom payments that the Nigerian government and oil companies involved always deny. |
| On Tuesday, Mend announced that it would not extend its month-long ceasefire called to give the new government a chance to set up talks on the restive region. | On Tuesday, Mend announced that it would not extend its month-long ceasefire called to give the new government a chance to set up talks on the restive region. |
| It said it would also resume abductions and attacks on oil installations. | It said it would also resume abductions and attacks on oil installations. |
| The group says it has been kept on the sidelines of government-led talks about the future of the Niger Delta. | The group says it has been kept on the sidelines of government-led talks about the future of the Niger Delta. |
| Although the Delta accounts for more than 90% of Nigeria's income, the region remains highly impoverished, a situation the militants say they want to change with their campaign. | Although the Delta accounts for more than 90% of Nigeria's income, the region remains highly impoverished, a situation the militants say they want to change with their campaign. |
| How safe do you feel in the Niger Delta? Send us your comments. | How safe do you feel in the Niger Delta? Send us your comments. |