Nigeria operation underway to free kidnapped Briton

Nigerian police started operations to secure the release of a British man kidnapped earlier this week from Lagos' international airport, the Nigerian Telegraph reported Saturday. "An expatriate, Lee Dixon, a Briton, who arrived on KLM from Amsterdam, was kidnapped around Mafoluku area at about 2030 (1930 GMT)," Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria spokesman Yakubu Dati confirmed. The abduction took place Tuesday, dpa reported. The British Foreign Office said Friday that it was aware of the reports and was liaising with the Nigerian authorities. "We have commenced investigations (and) an operation to get him back," Lagos State Police Command spokesman Ngozi Braide said. The kidnappers shot Dixon's driver, who is receiving treatment at a hospital in Lagos, shortly after leaving the airport. The police did not disclose if the abductors have demanded a ransom.