A Drayton Valley woman who was on an exchange trip with a local Rotary Club has been kidnapped in Nigeria.

Ross Tyson, the District Governor of Rotary International, says Julie Mulligan was kidnapped while in Nigeria on Thursday. She and four other Canadians went to Nigeria for a Rotary Club exchange program.



Tyson says the four others who were with Mulligan were rushed out of the region following her abduction.



"Our concern, our biggest concern, is Julie at this point and we'll make decisions pursuant to that," he said.



Mulligan, a married mother of two, was taking part in a group study program, something Tyson says the Rotary Club has been doing for decades.



The woman's employer, Sunlife Financial confirms that Julie Mulligan was kidnapped. However, they say she was not on a company business trip at the time.

Lisa Monette, a spokesperson with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, says that they are in touch with local authorities in Nigeria "with a view to securing release of the Canadian national."

They confirm a Canadian is missing and presumed kidnapped in Nigeria, but they won't confirm her identity.



CTV News spoke to Mulligan's family members, but they say they have no comment at this time.

