No Boko Haram role in abduction of two Indians in Nigeria, says govt

India on Friday ruled out the involvement of terror group Boko Haram in the abduction of two Indians from Gboko, a town in the Benue state of north-central Nigeria, and said it appeared that “local criminals” were involved.

The duo – Mangipudi Sai Srinivas (from Andhara Pradesh) and his colleague Anish Sharma (from Karnataka) – were travelling to Dangote Cement Plc Plant in a car from their residential quarters around 7.20 pm on Wednesday when a group of armed men kidnapped them at a traffic signal. “I have obtained a detailed report on the two Indian nationals Sai Srinivas and Anish Sharma, who have been abducted in Nigeria. I have ... spoken to Mrs Lalita Srinivas. I have assured her that we are doing everything to secure their release,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup described the abduction as “nothing surprising or new in that area”, saying such incidents keep happening there. Asserting that there has been no ransom demand so far, he said, “As far as our information goes there is no hand of terror group Boko Haram and it seems local criminal elements were responsible for the act.”  He said the Indian mission in Abuja was in touch with the Nigerian authorities in the matter and the ministry was hopeful that they will return safely. 

Asked about the status of Judith D'Souza, who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month, he said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has assured that his security and intelligence agencies were making all efforts for her safe release.