11 Indian workers released in Nigeria

New Delhi, Oct 11: Days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first visit to Nigeria, 11 Indians were kidnapped on Tuesday from a steel factory in Abuja.

They were subsequently released yesterday unharmed, sources said here today.

The 11 Indians, working in the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, were kidnapped on Tuesday but released yesterday by their abductors following intervention by Nigerian officials.

The sources, while confirming the incident, said all the 11 Indians were released yesterday and have gone back to work.

The sources said they did not know who had carried out the abductions and investigations were on.

Abduction of expatriate workers in Nigeria for ransom is common.

About 200 foreigners were abducted in the past one year. Most of them were released after days in captivity.

In June, 10 Indians were abducted from inside their housing complex but subsequently released after nearly two weeks.

In another incident in June, two Indian construction workers were seized but released after five days.

UNI