29 Sep 2010

School children kidnapped in Nigeria

8:34 am on 29 September 2010

Gunmen in south eastern Nigeria have abducted 15 children on their way to school.

A ransom of 20 million naira ($US130,000) is wanted for the pupils, who attend nursery and primary school.

The BBC reports there has been a sharp rise in hostage-taking in the province of Abia, but this is believed to be the first time so many children have been seized in a single group.

It is unclear whether the children's bus had security guards. They were on their way to the Abayi International School in the state's commercial capital, Aba.