Kidnappers Threaten Toddler's Life

Kidnappers in Nigeria have threatened to kill a 3-year-old girl unless her father takes her place, and negotiations for her release have begun. Margaret Hill's mother interrupted an interview today to join officials in bargaining for her safe return, Reuters reports, after recounting a chilling conversation in which an abductor said he "doesn't care about killing and burying the baby."

The girl, who has a British father and Nigerian mother, was snatched from a car caught in traffic yesterday. Kidnappings for ransom are a cottage industry in the Niger Delta; they seldom involve children, but three have been abducted this year. Although death threats are not unheard of, no one kidnapped by oil militants has been killed, the BBC reports. (More Nigeria stories.)