According to Chief Theo Fakama, from the local Enukorowa community, the four had been providing "free medical care and religious activities"
in the Burutu area of Delta state. Fakama said they are "saddened" by the kidnapping as the victims had
"brought succour to residents of the community for the past three years".
The spokesman for Delta state police, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the kidnapping, which happened on October
13, 2017 saying "The victims are of British nationality, two of whom are a couple, and have been rendering humanitarian services in the area for a while. But unfortunately, they didn’t let the authorities know of their presence in the area all this while. There is a militant group that has been operating in the area and we believe they are the ones behind the abduction.