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Oilmen kidnapped from Nigeria rig
Eight foreign oil workers have been kidnapped from an offshore oil rig in Nigeria, the rig's owner says.
The Nigerian military says six Britons, a Canadian and a US national were seized by armed men in the Niger Delta. No-one has admitted responsibility.
The rig sent out a distress call, saying it was under attack from between 20 and 30 men in speedboats.
There has been a spate of recent attacks in the region by militants, who want more local control of oil wealth.
They have kidnapped oil workers and warned them to leave the Delta.
The upsurge of attacks on foreign oil interests has cut Nigeria's oil production by 25% - a key factor in the high world price of crude oil.
Poverty and pollution
"Some unknown persons boarded the rig at 0300 [local time, 0200 GMT] and took eight workers," an executive from one of the companies that operate the Bulford Dolphin rig told Reuters news agency.
The rig, which is owned by the Norwegian company Fred Olsen Energy ASA, is about 20km off the coast, near the town of Warri.
A British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are in touch with both the Nigerian authorities and the men's company and are making urgent efforts to find out more information."
The Niger Delta is home to Nigeria's oil industry, but there is widespread poverty and numerous armed militia groups which operate in the area.
One group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), says it is fighting for greater local control of the oil revenues and compensation from oil companies for pollution in the Delta.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5040768.stm
The rig sent out a distress call, saying it was under attack from between 20 and 30 men in speedboats.
There has been a spate of recent attacks in the region by militants, who want more local control of oil wealth.
They have kidnapped oil workers and warned them to leave the Delta.
The upsurge of attacks on foreign oil interests has cut Nigeria's oil production by 25% - a key factor in the high world price of crude oil.
Poverty and pollution
"Some unknown persons boarded the rig at 0300 [local time, 0200 GMT] and took eight workers," an executive from one of the companies that operate the Bulford Dolphin rig told Reuters news agency.
The rig, which is owned by the Norwegian company Fred Olsen Energy ASA, is about 20km off the coast, near the town of Warri.
A British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are in touch with both the Nigerian authorities and the men's company and are making urgent efforts to find out more information."
The Niger Delta is home to Nigeria's oil industry, but there is widespread poverty and numerous armed militia groups which operate in the area.
One group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), says it is fighting for greater local control of the oil revenues and compensation from oil companies for pollution in the Delta.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/5040768.stm
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The rig's Norwegian owner, Fred. Olsen Energy ASA, confirmed the attack in a statement issued early Friday.
The kidnapped workers also include six Britons and an American.
“National and other authorities co-operate in solving the situation,” the company said.
The Buford Dolphin rig was not damaged during the attack but drilling has been temporarily suspended.
No other details were of the incident were given. The company did not release the names of the workers abducted.
The rig operates for the Nigerian oil company Peak Petroleum.
Peak Petroleum spokesman Bobby Morse told CBC Friday the incident happened around 4 a.m. when attackers came upside the rig — located about 60 kilometres off the southern coast of Nigeria — by boat.
“All efforts have been directed at trying to secure the safe release of all those who have been abducted,” he said by telephone from London.
He also wouldn't identify the workers involved but said their family members have been notified. This is the first time his company has been the target of such an incident.
Mr. Morse also said the motive for the attack is unclear although there has been “a lot of activity in the area by militants, militia groups that operate within the Niger Delta and it would appear from past incidence it would involve some form of ransom.”
According to reports, a distress call was sent out from the rig during the incident. That call was picked up by the Ossa Valiant, a passing ship. Other staff on the rig have been taken to the city of Port Harcourt.
More
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060602.woil0602/BNStory/National/home