A Briton and an American were kidnapped on Thursday from an oil prospecting ship off the coast of Nigeria’s southern state of Bayelsa, diplomatic and security sources said.
It was the latest in a wave of kidnappings and violence against foreigners in the oil producing Niger Delta which has forced hundreds of workers to pull out of the region and reduced Nigerian oil output by 500,000 barrels a day.
“Two expatriates, an American and a Briton, working for PGS have been kidnapped this morning on board MV Commander, one of the vessels at sea in Bayelsa,” a security source said, asking not to be named.
Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) is a Norwegian-based oil service company specialising in seismic studies. The company’s spokesman was not available for comment.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible or why, but several recent abductions in the delta have been motivated by ransom. Disputes between oil companies and local communities over jobs and other benefits often also play a role.
Violence in the Niger Delta is rooted in poverty, corruption and lawlessness. Many residents of the impoverished region resent the multi-billion-dollar industry which has damaged their environment, but brought them few benefits.
However, the violence has taken on a momentum of its own. Turf wars over control of a lucrative trade in stolen crude, abductions for ransom, sabotage and thuggery fomented for political ends are all part of the equation.
Analysts expect the situation to deteriorate further in the run-up to general elections in April.