Leeds-born hostage killing in Nigeria was ‘cold-blooded murder’

The man was yesterday named as Brendan Vaughan who, with six other foreigners, was being held by extremist group Ansaru.

Mr Vaughan was originally from Leeds but had been living in Thailand.

The group issued a statement on Saturday saying it had killed the hostages.

The seven were all employees of Setraco, a Lebanese construction company, that were captured by Ansaru in a raid on one of its operations in Nigeria’s Bauchi state last month.

Mr Hague said: “This was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms.

“My thoughts are with his family, and the families of the other hostages. I offer them our deep condolences at this terrible time, and know that the thoughts of people up and down our country will be with them.”

He added: “Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the terrorists. I am grateful to the Nigerian government for their unstinting help and co-operation.

“We are utterly determined to work with them to hold the perpetrators of this heinous act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of people in Northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”

No further details about Mr Vaughan have been released but tributes have begun to be posted on Facebook by friends.

One - Peter Dixon - left a message on the site saying “Rip mate”.

Mr Vaughan’s Thai girlfriend, Orasa Arpornkaew, wrote: “Your always in my heart.”

Dom Cooney posted: “cant believe it. he was like an ox.”

Mr Vaughan’s page includes details of where he was working in Nigeria and photos of armed protection guards at his compound.

It appears he had left West Yorkshire and started a new life in Thailand with Ms Arpornkaew.

Yesterday, Mr Hague said in a statement: “This was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms.

“My thoughts are with his family, and the families of the other hostages, who will be devastated by this tragic loss.

“I offer them our deep condolences at this terrible time, and know that the thoughts of people up and down our country will be with them.”

He added: “Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the terrorists. I am grateful to the Nigerian government for their unstinting help and co-operation.

“We are utterly determined to work with them to hold the perpetrators of this heinous act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of people in northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”

Those kidnapped included three Lebanese citizens and one each from Britain, Greece, Italy and the Philippines - all employees of Setraco, a Lebanese construction company with an operation in Bauchi state, local officials said at the time.