They threatened my wife, demanded money and she gave them something but Eiman was terrified

Douglas Grant

Eiman was snatched from her home by four men, believed to be Islamic separatists, who are thought to be holding her for a ransom of 100,000 pesos (�1300).

The kidnappers took the girl from the family home on the remote island of Basilan in the southern Philippines earlier this week.

They demanded the money from her mother and when she could not produce it they snatched the girl and ordered her family to come up with the ransom.

Mr Grant, a hospitality manager, said he had spoken to his wife Mina, 43, who had given him more details about the kidnap and who remains at home with their 22-month-old daughter Khadija.

Eiman Grant was in a distressed state

However, he said details were still sketchy and he is unconvinced that the Philippine authorities will be able to free Eiman.

He said: "The Philippine authorities are dealing with it but the Basilan islands are very far from (the capital) Manila.

"The security forces do go on the island but the people maybe in the forces are not particularly island orientated and they are up against people maybe involved in guerilla warfare, they know how to survive."

Recounting the kidnap incident, Mr Grant said Eiman was distressed when she was snatched by the gang and concern for her wellbeing is growing.

'State of shock'

He said: "My wife said these people approached the house and asked for water.

"Unfortunately one of my family opened the door for them and they came in with weapons.

"They threatened my wife, demanded money and she gave them something but Eiman was terrified and crying next to her and they took her away.

"So they took her away in a state of shock to start with."

The Grant family pictured in Manila

Mr Grant said the group appeared to be looking for about 100,000 pesos (1500).

He told the BBC: "But the main thing is this has got to be done properly through the government, whether we pay the ransom or give it to them in some other form.

"It depends what they want it for because in that part of the world they're using the money to buy weapons and ammunition."

The area where Eiman was snatched is a notorious trouble spot for kidnappings by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or splinter group Abu Sayyaf.

The guerilla movements are fighting for an independent Muslim state in the southern islands of the Philippines.

The Philippines National Police and armed forces, along with trained negotiators, were quickly sent to the area.

A Foreign Office spokesman said investigations are continuing into the kidnapping.