Nigerian Kidnappers Threaten to Kill British Girl

The mother of a three-year-old British girl snatched in Nigeria has said the kidnappers phoned and threatened to kill her daughter.

Margaret Hill, the daughter of Oluchi Hill and oil worker Mike Hill, was kidnapped yesterday as she traveled to school by car in Port Harcourt, in the south of the country.

Margaret's mother said the kidnappers threatened to kill her daughter unless Mr Hill agreed to take the child's place.

She told the BBC they had called yesterday morning and demanded a meeting in a town in the Niger delta. They then allowed her to speak to her daughter, who was crying.

Mrs Hill, a Nigerian national, said the kidnappers told her to meet them in a town in Bayelsa state, but said 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."

She said the kidnappers then threatened to kill Margaret if Mr Hill did not come within three hours. She had not heard from them since.

Police and diplomats were today frantically working to help secure Margaret's release.

Kidnappers smashed a window as the car carrying Margaret sat in heavy traffic and grabbed the toddler, according to an official at the British high commission.

Mr Hill, who has lived in Nigeria for 10 years, is originally from Murton in Co Durham. It is believed he works for the Nigerian-based drilling firm Lonestar.

The Foreign Office yesterday called for the "immediate safe release" of the girl.

"We do not know who took her. We are in contact with her parents and are providing assistance," a spokeswoman said.

"High commission officials are in contact with the Nigerian authorities. We call for her immediate safe release."

Kidnappings have become an almost weekly occurrence in the south of the country, where many foreign oil workers are based.

More than a dozen foreigners are currently in captivity and more than 200 have been taken since the end of 2005.