A British aid worker has been shot dead in Nigeria after gunmen stormed a holiday resort on Friday, killing two people and kidnapping three others.

The British High Commission confirmed her death, and non-governmental aid agency Mercy Corps named her as Faye Mooney, one of its employees in Nigeria.

Mercy Corps said it was “utterly heartbroken” to learn that Mooney, who had been working as a communications specialist with the agency for almost two years, had been “tragically killed” by gunmen at the resort in Kaduna State, in the northwest of the country.

“Faye was deeply committed to fostering cross-cultural collaboration and was an inspiration to us all,” CEO of Mercy Corps Neal Keny-Guyer said in a statement.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to those who have been affected by this senseless tragedy.”

Local police said the two victims had travelled to the Kajuru Castle holiday resort with 12 other tourists, and that the attack took place around 11:40 p.m. local time on Friday.

“Intensive efforts are being made by the Command to rescue the kidnapped persons, (apprehend) the fleeing culprits and bring them to justice,” Kaduna State police said in a statement.

Officers did not state the motive for the attack, name the other person killed or release any details of those who were kidnapped.

The risk of kidnapping is high in northern Nigeria, according to travel advice issued by the UK government, where locals and foreigners have been targeted for ransom.