Gun battles erupted in multiple locations in southern Nigeria’s oil hub of Port Harcourt, and witnesses said a group of foreigners was taken hostage from a nightclub amid the shooting.
According to George Ani, a driver in Port Harcourt, more than 10 people went into the Goodfellas nightclub on Sunday night and dragged a group of foreigners away while shooting into the air.
Ani said: “They were shooting and everyone started screaming. They took some expatriates, but I don’t know how many. I lay on the floor of my car until it was finished.”
Police commissioner Samuel Adetuyi confirmed that gun battles were taking place in different areas of the city, but declined to elaborate. He didn’t confirm or deny the kidnapping.
‘No one injured in the raid’
Ani said the night club attackers were wearing military uniforms and didn’t cover their faces.
He said: “There were a lot of them, more than 10, but I didn’t have time to count.” Ani said he didn’t see anyone injured in the raid.
Two private security contractors who knew people in the club confirmed the report. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak to journalists.
Witnesses said they heard gunshots in at least three neighbourhoods of Port Harcourt.
Patterson Ogon, the head of an environmental organisation, said: “I can hear simultaneous shooting in the Agip area of town and Adageorge” at midnight.
Another man living in the area, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said he heard more than 100 shots in 15 minutes.