3 Lebanese Kidnapped in Nigeria

Three Lebanese have been kidnapped in Lagos, a rare case of expatriate kidnapping in Nigeria's commercial center, the state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday.

NNA said the Lebanese foreign ministry was informed about the kidnapping, adding that contacts are underway to set them free.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said the kidnappers have asked for ransom.

NNA did not specify how the kidnapping occurred.

A British businessman was also abducted Saturday in Lagos.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, but most have occurred in its oil-rich southern delta. Lagos, a city of 17.5 million inhabitants, is in the country's southwest.

In recent years, Nigeria has had a spate of ransom kidnappings, which usually last for a few days and which have focused on the country's oil-rich region.

However, Nigeria's north has also started to see politically-motivated kidnappings which typically last much longer. Kidnappings there have been linked to Islamic extremist groups rather than criminal gangs.

Islamist extremist group Ansaru recently claimed to have executed seven foreign hostages, including two Lebanese.

But its claim could not be verified.