What about hostages without rich friends, support group asks Following reports that millions of euros were paid in ransom money to the kidnappers of four Frenchmen working for big companies and who were released this week in Niger, a member of a support group for Serge Lazarevic, another Frenchman held in the Sahel, wonders about the fate of hostages who don't have the same government or corporate backing. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.