Malaria hit Iryna before abduction in Nigeria
Iryna Ekma-Upa, a Belarusian woman, recently freed from Nigerian kidnappers, is preparing to undergo a surgery in a London hospital. She was flown to London by her employer, COMPASS GROUPE, LONDON.
The kidnappers demanded the $1.2 million ransom for her release. It is still unclear whether the ransom was eventually paid. But the money is not a priority now, because the health condition of the Belarusian woman has deteriorated. She is suffering from blood contamination after the injury and from malaria.
The European Radio for Belarus called Chris King, the company's spokesman in London who confirmed that Iryna was currently being treated at a special clinic that provides services to their company. Mr King also confirmed that she was hit by malaria but said that it had happened before she was taken hostage:
“She is presently in a clinic that offers treatment to the staff of our company in London. She is being treated for malaria, which she got before abduction. The wound will also be operated. Any other information regarding the treatment and the details of her release is the commercial secret of the company”.
In Nigeria, abduction cases are dealt with by the National Security Agency, an analogue of the Belarusian KGB. Aleh Hivoin, the brother to Iryna, told the European Radio for Belarus that she asked her brother not to give her phone number to anyone. She suspected that her phone was bugged, because the operation to arrest the kidnappers was not over yet. This supports the version that Iryna was freed indeed by the Nigerian secret services.
The European Radio for Belarus called the police chief at the town of Port Harkat, Nigeria. But the police official refused to reveal the details of the investigation, citing the interest of the National Security Agency of Nigeria.
Photo: kp.belkp.by
