Nigerian gunmen kidnapped six foreign staff of a Russian aluminium company after blowing up their apartment in the southeastern town of Ikot Abasi, security sources said on Sunday.
The latest abductions take to 30 the number of foreigners being held by different armed groups in the lawless southern delta where the kidnapping of expatriates has become almost a daily occurrence.
The abducted men included three Russians and two South Africans, a local official said. Their Nigerian driver was killed in the attack.
The men were working at the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), which is controlled by United Company RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium producer, in Akwa Ibom state.
“This morning at about 5 am (0400 GMT) six (people) were kidnapped at ALSCON. They used explosive devices to blow up their apartment,” said a security source working for foreign firms in the southern delta.
RUSAL officials and local police were not immediately available for comment.
In Neighbouring Rivers state, gunmen disguised as riot police kidnapped four foreign workers on Saturday from the residential compound of oil services giant Schlumberger in the oil city of Port Harcourt.