French worker kidnapped in Nigeria

No claim of responsibility so far

Author: By CNN Staff
Published On: Dec 20 2012 08:09:06 AM EST   Updated On: Dec 21 2012 12:59:18 AM EST
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(CNN) -

A French national working for green energy firm Vergnet has been kidnapped in Nigeria, a company spokeswoman said.

The kidnapping is believed to have taken place overnight, and the company is in touch with the French Foreign Ministry as well as the French Embassy in Nigeria, Vergnet spokeswoman Jennifer Julia said.

The abduction occurred in Rimi, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Katsina, in northern Nigeria, she said.

No claim of responsibility or demand has been made so far, Julia said.

Vergnet has taken additional security measures for all its employees working abroad, she added.

The U.S. State Department warns U.S. citizens against travel to a number of states in Nigeria because of the risk of kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks.

The mother of the Nigerian finance minister was seized from her home in a high-profile kidnapping earlier this month. Kamene Okonjo was released unharmed after being held for five days.

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