A British aid worker and a Nigerian citizen were killed and three others kidnapped when gunmen stormed a luxury hotel near the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, the police and U.K. authorities said.
The incident took place at Kajuru Castle late on Friday, Nigerian police said in statement. The U.K. High Commission on Sunday confirmed the death of one of its nationals in a tweet.
The woman was named by her employers as Faye Mooney from Manchester and was employed in Nigeria as a communication specialist for the non-governmental organization Mercy Corps, which said it was “utterly heartbroken”.
Mooney’s family said they were “so proud of who she was”, adding: “Her memory will always be cherished.”
“Faye was an inspiration to her family, friends, students and work colleagues,” the family said. “Her bravery and her belief in a better society took her to places others feared.”
Kidnapping for ransom is common in Nigeria, with foreigners and high-profile Nigerians frequently targeted. Police said there had been no claim of responsibility for the incident and the kidnappers were yet to be identified.
