KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - An Islamist group linked to al Qaeda claimed responsibility on Monday for the kidnapping of seven foreigners during a night time raid in a remote northern Nigerian town at the weekend.

"(We) have the custody of seven persons, which include Lebanese and their European counterparts working with Setraco," read a statement from Ansaru, a group that has kidnapped other foreigners in Nigeria in the past.

Gunmen killed a security guard and abducted a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers after storming the housing compound of Lebanese construction firm Setraco in Jama'are in Bauchi state late on Saturday.

(Reporting by Chukwuemeka Madu and Isaak Abrak; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Andrew Heavens)