Nigerian rebels have suspended a ceasefire with the Federal Government. The economy in this West African state is collapsing due to the drop in oil revenue and a crisis in the financial sector.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
22:09 Mecca time, 19:09 GMT
Foreigners abducted in Niger delta
Fighters in the Niger delta has launched attacks and abducted hundreds of people since 2006
Four foreign workers have been abducted by armed men in Nigeria's oil-rich River State.
An official said one police officer was killed as the three Syrians and one Lebanese, all working on a construction site, were seized near Port Harcourt in the Niger delta.
"About 10 or more kidnappers, all armed with automatic weapons, fired many rounds. The hoodlums kidnapped four expatriate workers - three Syrians and one Lebanese," Rita Abbey, a police spokeswoman, said on Friday.
"One of our policemen attached to the company was killed by the hoodlums."
Abbey said no group or individual had yet claimed responsibility for Thursday's abductions and no ransom has been demanded so far.
Hundreds of mostly foreign and local oil workers have been kidnapped in the volatile Niger delta since 2006. Most have been released unharmed, and some were freed only after ransom payments.
Fighters, who demand that the federal government send more oil-industry funds to Nigeria's southern region, have launched numerous attacks on oil-installations in the area and fought government troops since January 2006.
On March 31, a local employee of French oil group Total was abducted on his way to work in Port Harcourt.
Source: Agencies
No comments:
Post a Comment