Four Australian mining workers kidnapped in Nigeria during terrifying ambush revealed

The four Australian mining employees, who were kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria during a terrifying ambush, have been revealed.

Australians Peter Zoutenbier, Jack Couranz and Mark Gabbedy are missing, along with New Zealander Jamal Khan, South African Wayne Smith and Nigerian Austin Adise.

Tim Croot, a 24-year-old mechanic from Perth, managed to flee along with a driver.

The West Australian understands Mr Croot had army reserve training. It was reported he phone his mother Wednesday night to tell her not to worry and that he was OK.

The group’s convoy was ambushed as they were travelling in the country’s southeast, just outside the city of Calabar in the Akpabuyo district.

The group, who worked for West Australian mining company Macmahon Holdings, was targeted about 5.30am on Wednesday (local time).

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed three Australian citizens and one Australian resident had been kidnapped.

It’s believed the group was travelling to work before the attack unfolded near a bridge crossing.

They were being escorted by a security vehicle with police, when they were targeted.

Local media reported a group of militants ambushed the group before shooting and killing the driver at the scene.

The kidnappers fled with hostages in a nearby boat.

It’s believed Jack Couranz is employed as a reliability engineer, Mark Gabbedy is a project manager at Macmahon, Tim Croot is a diesel mechanic and Peter Zoutenbier is a maintenance planner.

A witness told Vanguard one member of the group hid under a vehicle during the ambush and remained unseen by the attackers ‘because it was still a bit dark’.

Local police have said the kidnappers had not been in touch with authorities.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the government was working to confirm the details of the kidnapping.

'The Australian Government is in close contact with the Nigerian Government, which is taking the matter extremely seriously,” she said.

Commissioner Ozi-Obeh said police were working with the Nigerian Navy to ensure that the victims were released unharmed.

The commissioner said no ransom demand had been received.

Macmahon said it was working with a crisis-management organisation to secure the release of its employees.

This morning the company placed its ASX-listed shares in a trading halt.

In its announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange, it referred to a security incident at one of its operations in Africa.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the Australian High Commissioner was on the scene and was working with the local authorities at the highest levels.

“We don’t know at this stage the identity of the kidnappers. The families have been notified of course," he said.

"In many respects, the less Julie and I say about this the better from the point of view recovering the kidnapped people.

"It is a very serious kidnapping, a very serious criminal assault – one person was killed as you know and seven people were kidnapped.”

WA Mines Minister Sean L’Estrange said he was very concerned for the family and friends, as well as the people involved in the incident.

“It’s always a concern when Australian workers who are working overseas are placed in danger,” he said.

“Right now, as I understand the Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are discussing this and working this through with the Nigerian Government.”

One witness to the abduction, who asked not to be identified, said the kidnappers took the men to a waiting boat.

LafargeHolcim spokeswoman Viola Graham-Douglas said the company was informed of the incident by Macmahon, which was "working with the security agencies to resolve the situation".

Macmahon has an $18 million a year contract with the United Cement Company of Nigeria Ltd (UniCem) for quarrying operations at UniCem's cement manufacturing plant at Mfamosing, near Calabar.

The company has two major projects in Nigeria, the other being a $105 million limestone mining contract in Ewekoro which was a part of industrial action in March. It was resolved last month.

The Calabar operation was not affected by the industrial action.

UniCem is a joint venture between Franco-Swiss conglomerate LafargeHolcim and Flour Mills of Nigeria, according to the Australian firm's website.

Kidnapping for ransom has been a long-standing problem in southern Nigeria, particularly in the oil-producing delta region, where criminal gangs target wealthy Nigerians and expatriate workers.

Most are usually released after the payment of a ransom.