Ballymoney aid worker returns home after Nigeria kidnapping

By David Hunter

A missionary worker from Ballymoney who was kidnapped in Nigeria three weeks ago, has returned home to her family. 

Alanna Carson, who's in her 20's, was working as an Optometrist with a medical charity in the country for several months. 

One of her colleagues, Ian Squire, was murdered during the ordeal.

They'd been working alongside David and Shirley Donovan when they were abducted in the Delta region of the country on October 13.

The foreign office says it's providing assistance to four families after the West African country negotiated their release.

A statement said: "This has clearly been a traumatic time for all concerned, and our staff will continue to do all we can to support the families.

"We are grateful to the Nigerian authorities, and are unable to comment given the ongoing nature of their investigations."

Ms Carson had been working at a Specsavers store in Fife, Scotland, before going on her missionary work.

Store director Adrian McCann said: "We are of course hugely relieved to hear that our colleague has been safely released and is back home with her family."

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey has been speaking to QRadio news.