Mark Gabbedy – a miner from Tasmania’s North-West Coast – was taken hostage after an ambush on the outskirts of Calabar in Nigeria’s Cross River State about 5.30am.

About 30 militants were involved near the Idundun Bridge crossing over a river, local media has reported. 

After the attack, the kidnappers fled with the hostages aboard a boat that was hidden under the bridge.

The driver of a vehicle was shot dead in the attack and six people were reportedly taken.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the government was trying to identify the culprits of the attack and those responsible were yet to make demands.

The gunmen had not contacted police on Friday.

On Friday, Mr Gabbedy’s father, who did not wish to be named, said the family was monitoring the situation but was reluctant to comment out of fear for the group’s safety.

Mr Gabbedy’s LinkedIn profile says he is in Nigeria as mining company Macmahon’s project manager at its Ewokoro site.

He attended Launceston Church Grammar from 1980 to 1985 before moving on to work in Western Australia’s and Asia’s mining industries.

The other Australians kidnapped are Brisbane’s Peter Zoutenbier and Perth’s Jack Couranz, along with New Zealand’s Jamal Khan, South African Wayne Smith, and Nigerian Austin Adise.