Lebanese, Syrians among hostages killed by Nigeria Islamists

Two Lebanese and two Syrian hostages, along with three other foreigners, were reportedly killed by Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru on Saturday, but there was no immediate confirmation from Nigerian authorities or the countries the hostages were said to be from.

Ansaru claimed they had killed their hostages, which they abducted last month in Nigeria’s restive north.
The dead hostages were reportedly shown in a video released by the Islamists.

According to SITE Intelligence Group, “Al-Qabidun ‘Ala al-Jamr (Grippers of Embers) Media Foundation, an affiliate of the Sinam al-Islam Network, issued the communique in Arabic and English on March 9, 2013, and also provided screen captures of a forthcoming video showing the dead hostages.”

“In the communique, the group stated that the attempts by the British and Nigerian governments to rescue the hostages, and their alleged arrest and killing of people, forced it to carry out the execution,” SITE said.

Police last month said the victims of the February 16 kidnapping in Bauchi state included four Lebanese, one Briton, a Greek citizen and an Italian. A company official later said the Middle Eastern hostages included two Lebanese and two Syrians.

Ansaru, considered a splinter faction of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping two days after the abduction.

More: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/2013/03/…mists.html