Photojournalist Nigel Brennan, 35, and his travelling companion Canadian television reporter Amanda Lindhout, 27, were taken hostage by armed captors in Somali four days ago.

They were seized at gunpoint from their vehicles near Mogadishu.

It’s believed negotiations are underway for their release.

Nigel is the son of Geoff and Heather Brennan. The couple left their property near Tulloona three years ago.

They now live in Bundaberg.

“Nigel would be well known throughout the area,” a family friend who did not want to be named said yesterday.

“He grew up here and went to all the pony club events.

“Geoff and Heather are wonderful people. They don’t deserve this and our prayers are with them and Nigel,” she said.

The Brennans while not wishing to comment released this statement yesterday.

“We understand that the Australian Government is making urgent contact with relevant Somalian authorities as well as the Canadian, French and British embassies to help locate Nigel. This is a difficult time for our family and we ask everyone to respect our privacy.”

Journalists and humanitarian workers are frequently abducted in Somalia, a country racked by civil war since 1991.

Mr Brennan has worked as a freelance photographer for several publications and was a photographer at the Bundaberg News-Mail for 12 months until January.