Kiwis Brent Goddard and Bruce Klenner were taken hostage at gunpoint along with three others from a Shell oil rig at Soku on the Niger Delta on Wednesday. The others are: Jason Lane from Australia, George Saliba of Lebanon and Andreas Gambra from Venezuela.
Their employer, Lone Star, understands the kidnapped men are unharmed at this stage.
Mr Goddard’s partner, Gilly Sannazzaro, says she has always been concerned for his safety, and has been in regular contact with Lone Star. She received a call from Nigera at 10.30am on Thursday (NZ time), saying contact had been made with the kidnappers, but no demands had been made yet.
Ms Sannazzaro says Mr Goddard began working in Nigeria this year and was enjoying it. He had returned there two weeks ago.
The wife of Bruce Klenner says she was aware of the risks of working in Nigeria. However, Linda Klenner says she remains hopeful that he is okay.
Mrs Klenner says the managing director of Lone Star is very upset at the kidnapping and is doing all he can to free the men.
Both women and their families say they will be staying close to the phone over the next few days as efforts continue to secure the release of the men.
NZ working with consulates
Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand is working with the Australian and British governments, who have consulates in Nigeria, to find more information about what has happened to the five men.
She says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has contacted the men’s families to offer advice and support.
Miss Clark says she understands other New Zealanders are working in similar jobs in Nigeria and is urging them to make sure their companies have appropriate safety arrangements in place.
Money seen as motive
New Zealand’s High Commissioner for Nigeria, Jonathan Hunt, says money is likely to be the motive for the kidnapping.
New Zealander Frank Brindle, who has worked as an oil engineer in Nigeria, says kidnapping has become an increasing hazard for oil workers in Nigeria. He says kidnappers there were originally politically motivated, but they are increasingly more interested in receiving a ransom.
Mr Brindle says the official line from oil companies is that they do not pay ransoms, but usually money is paid – often after negotiations via the families.
An estimated 200 foreigners, mostly oil workers, have been kidnapped in the region since the beginning of 2006.