Abduction in Nigeria: Kidnapped Thai calls to say all safe

[webfact]

ABDUCTION IN NIGERIA
Kidnapped Thai calls to say all safe
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- One of the four Thai workers, who were abducted by an unknown gang in Nigeria, called his company to say he and the others were safe and had not been harmed, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said yesterday.

The victim told the company that he would make contact again, the spokesman said, without identifying the caller.

The kidnapped Thais are husband and wife Somchok Punpinit, 55; and Bussaya Sripanya, 38; Somchok's brother Thanawut, 50; and Chaiyan Taichompu, 46.

The four Thais and two Nigerians were on their way to work at an Israeli-operated fish farm in the southern Rivers State in Nigeria on Friday when a gang of about six people kidnapped them. Manasvi said Thai Ambassador to Nigeria Somchai Powcharoen has assigned his minister counsellor to go to Rivers State to take charge of the issue.

"The kidnappers have not demanded a ransom or anything else. When the demand is made, we can start negotiating," he said.

Meanwhile relatives of the abducted Thais met in Udon Thani's Nong Han district to seek help from MP Thongdee Manissarn. They said the four victims had travelled to Nigeria in December last year with a six-month visa, and returned home on June 9 when their visas expired. They returned to Nigeria on June 20 with new visas.

Somchok and Bussaya's son, Panu Punpinit, 23, said his parents contacted him everyday via Facebook. Since there were no signs of danger, he and one of his cousins were scheduled to go to work in Nigeria and had already obtained a six-month visa. "We are about to leave. We're just waiting for air tickets and my father's confirmation of the travel date," Panu said.


-- The Nation 2013-08-14

[NongKhaiKid]

They were not in Nigeria, they were held by jet ski operators in Phuket for causing millions of Baht's worth of damage

[noitom]

Based on the amount and quality of the news coverage on this kidnapping of four Thai countrymen, one could easily conclude that the powers to be holds these fishermen in second rate priority. This is a terrorist act against Thailand and should be treated as such with a higher priority. Unfortunately the Thai fish industry fat cats probably could care less about these dime a dozen fish laborers.

[JulesMad]

Quite funny to see these Nigerian terrorists wear life-jackets on a calm river

[lee b]

Well i'm very happy to here that the Thais are safe. Next step is to get out of that place quick !

[marell]

Quite funny to see these Nigerian terrorists wear life-jackets on a calm river

It's a Nigerian kidapping safety requirement.

[DGIE]

The Nigerians have not asked for ransom yet. Maybe they just want to let the thai cook somtam.

[katana]

...

Edited August 14, 2013 by katana

[MikeOboe57]

Quite funny to see these Nigerian terrorists wear life-jackets on a calm river

It's a Nigerian kidapping safety requirement.

I doubt the kidnappers would allow photos. This photo shows two regular soldiers, 2 UN employees with blue basecaps and several other civilians. The woman could be one of the Thais.

[MegaRanter]

The pictures show a group of civilians with two army escorts.

This story is not even big in Nigeria. It happened in Rivers state. In the past 50 days, the presidents wife comes from that state, she hates the sitting governor. She spent two weeks there recently, meaning the governor has to lie low, her details are far too up class. The states parliament was in a free for fight a month ago, one was knocked out with the mace, he is still in a London hospital. The states police chief does not report to the governor anymore. The governor is talking up to the president. Lots of shenanigans going on at the same time there.

The Thais kidnap might be a ruse to further make the already stupid governor look helpless. They work in a state farm after all.

The state has the most oil fields and therefore tons of expatriate oil executive, why just fish farmers?

I think it's just to make the local boss sleepless. No ransom asked, just to keep him guessing. You not pick a fight with someone that has the control of all the country's security apparatus.